SC Allows Services of Summons & Notices Through WhatsApp

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday allowed service of summons & notices through instant tele-messenger services like Whatsapp as well as via email & fax.

A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, AS Bopanna & Subhash Reddy clarified that all methods are to be employed to prove a valid service on a party .

CJI refused the request of the Attorney General for specifically naming Whatsapp as a mode of effectuating service stating that it was not prudent to specify Whatsapp only.

Further to this, the Court also permitted Reserve Bank of India to extend the validity of cheques owing to the Coronavirus induced lockdown. 

Senior Advocate V Giri appearing for RBI informed court that he had circulated the note regarding validity of a cheque under S 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act as directed on the previous hearing.

CJI SA Bobde stated that relying on Section 35A of Banking Regulation Act, it was stated during the last hearing that it is not appropriate for the Court to interfere in the deadline which will be prescribed by RBI and that it was up to RBI to decide on extension of deadline for cheque validity.