Who may serve processes of High Court
Full Text
Notice to produce documents, summonses to witnesses, and every other judicial process, issued in the exercise of the original civil jurisdiction of the High Court, and of its matrimonial, testamentary and intestate jurisdictions, except summonses to defendants, writs of execution and notices to respondents may be served by the attorneys in the suits, or by persons employed by them, or by such other persons as the High Court, by any rule or order, directs.
Plain English Summary
Permits attorneys or their clerks in suits before Chartered High Courts exercising original civil, matrimonial, testamentary, or intestate jurisdiction to directly serve witness summonses, discovery notices, and interlocutory processes, excluding defendant summonses and execution writs.
Key Legal Elements
- Chartered High Courts' Original Jurisdiction: Applies to Calcutta, Bombay, Madras (and Courts with similar Original Side setup).
- Permitted Processes: Notices to produce, witness summonses, interlocutory notices, discovery and inspection processes.
- Excluded High-Stakes Writs: Summonses to defendants, writs of execution (arrest/attachment), and notices to respondents must be served by Court Bailiff/Sheriff.
- Direct Attorney Service: Streamlines litigation by empowering enrolled attorneys/clerks to effect service directly on opposite counsel.
Practical Note
Original Side Practice and Service by Advocates/Attorneys: 1. Expediting Interlocutory Steps: Under Order XLIX Rule 1, attorneys on the Original Side of the Chartered High Courts are entitled to serve witness summonses, notices to admit documents, and motion papers directly on the advocate for the opposing party, securing an endorsed receipt. This bypasses the registry's process-serving machinery for non-initiating processes. 2. Sheriff's Exclusive Domain for Commencing Writs: The writ of summons commencing the action and execution warrants affecting liberty or property can never be served by attorneys; they must be executed strictly through the Sheriff or court bailiff to ensure official verification.
हिंदी पाठ
दस्तावेज पेश करने की सूचनाएं, साक्षियों को समन और उच्च न्यायालय की आरंभिक सिविल अधिकारिता (Original Civil Jurisdiction) तथा उसकी वैवाहिक, वसीयती और निर्वसीयती अधिकारिताओं के प्रयोग में जारी की गई प्रत्येक अन्य न्यायिक आदेशिका (सिवाय प्रतिवादियों को समन, निष्पादन रिटों और प्रत्यर्थियों को सूचनाओं के), वादों में अटर्नियों द्वारा, या उनके द्वारा नियोजित व्यक्तियों द्वारा अथवा ऐसे अन्य व्यक्तियों द्वारा तामील की जा सकेंगी जिन्हें उच्च न्यायालय किसी नियम या आदेश द्वारा निदेश दे।