Summoning

20. (1) A summons issued by an officer appointed under this Act shall be served–

1. (i) personally, on the person to whom it is addressed, or failing him;
2. (ii) his recognized agent; or
3. (iii) an adult member of his family usually residing with him.

1. (2) A summons may also be served by pasting a copy thereof at the usual or last known place of residence of the person to whom it is addressed.
2. (3) A summons may, if an officer appointed under this Act so directs, be served on the person named therein, either in addition to, or in substitution for, any other mode of service, by forwarding the summons by post in a letter addressed to the person and registered under Chapter VI of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 (Central Act VI of 1898), or sent through a reputed courier agency notified by the Government in this regard.
3. (4) When a summons is so forwarded in a letter, and it is proved that the letter was properly addressed and duly posted and registered, the officer appointed under this Act may presume that the summons was served at the time when receipt of its delivery is furnished: Provided that in case of a letter sent through registered post, its delivery may be presumed after thirty days if it is not received back undelivered within this period.
4. (5) A summons may also be served on the person named therein by publication of the contents thereof in a daily Punjabi newspaper having wide circulation: Provided that if the summons relates to a case in which persons having the same interest are so numerous that personal service on all of them is not reasonably practicable, it may, in the first instance and if the officer appointed under this Act so directs, be served by delivery of a copy thereof to such of those persons as the officer appointed under this Act nominates in this behalf, and by publication of the contents thereof in a daily Punjabi newspaper having wide circulation, for the information of the other persons interested.
5. (6) The summons may also be served through Short Message Service, email, or through other electronic modes at the phone number or e-mail address otherwise known or made known, to the officer appointed under this Act: Provided that if service is effected through any of the above modes, a printout of the delivery of summons shall be placed on the record.
6. (7) A notice, order of proclamation or copy of any such document, issued by an officer under this Act for service on any person shall be served in the manner provided in this section for the service of a summons.
7. (8) Any of the modes of service provided in sub-sections (2), (3), (5) or (6) may be adopted simultaneously in addition to the mode of service provided in sub-section (1).