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BNSS, 2023
Start Practicing
BNSSChapter VISection 66
Section66

Service when persons summoned cannot be found

AI Assist

Summary

When a summoned person cannot be found after reasonable effort, the summons can be served by leaving one duplicate with an adult family member who lives with them. That family member may be asked to sign a receipt on the back of the other duplicate. A servant is not treated as a family member for this purpose.

Example

Priya is summoned to appear in court but the officer cannot locate her at home after searching. The officer leaves a duplicate summons with her mother, who lives with her. When asked, her mother signs a receipt on the back of the other duplicate. The house helper would not qualify as the family member for service.

Bare Act

Enacted text

Where the person summoned cannot, by the exercise of due diligence, be found, the summons may be served by leaving one of the duplicates for him with some adult member of his family residing with him, and the person with whom the summons is so left shall, if so required by the serving officer, sign a receipt therefor on the back of the other duplicate.

Explanation.-A servant is not a member of the family within the meaning of this section.

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VI

Chapter VI

Processes to Compel Appearance

In this chapter

  • 63Form of summons
  • 64Summons how served
  • 65Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies
  • 66Service when persons summoned cannot be found
  • 67Procedure when service cannot be effected as before provided
  • 68Service on Government servant
  • 69Service of Summons outside local limits
  • 70Proof of service in such cases and when serving officer not present
  • 71Service of summons on witness
  • 72Form of warrant of arrest and duration
  • 73Power to direct security to be taken
  • 74Warrants to whom directed
  • 75Warrant may be directed to any person
  • 76Warrant directed to police officer
  • 77Notification of substance of warrant
  • 78Person arrested to be brought before Court without delay
  • 79Where warrant may be executed
  • 80Warrant forwarded for execution outside jurisdiction
  • 81Warrant directed to police officer for execution outside jurisdiction
  • 82Procedure on arrest of person against whom warrant issued
  • 83Procedure by Magistrate before whom such person arrested is brought
  • 84Proclamation for person absconding
  • 85Attachment of property of person absconding
  • 86Identification and attachment of property of proclaimed person
  • 87Claims and objections to attachment
  • 88Release, sale and restoration of attached property
  • 89Appeal from order rejecting application for restoration of attached property
  • 90Issue of warrant in lieu of, or in addition to, summons
  • 91Power to take bond or bail bond for appearance
  • 92Arrest on breach of bond or bail bond for appearance
  • 93Provisions of this Chapter generally applicable to summons and warrants of arrest
Previous · Section 65Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societiesNext · Section 67Procedure when service cannot be effected as before provided