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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter VI: Processes To Compel Appearance

Section 66 BNSS: Service when persons summoned cannot be found

Corresponding CrPC
Section 64 CrPC

Bare Act 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.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 46 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Provides that, where the person summoned cannot be found with due diligence, the summons may be served by leaving a duplicate with an adult member of his family residing with him, who signs a receipt on request. A servant is not a family member for this purpose.

Chapter VI: Processes To Compel Appearance

  1. 63 Form of summons
  2. 64 Summons how served
  3. 65 Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies
  4. 66 Service when persons summoned cannot be found
  5. 67 Procedure when service cannot be effected as before provided
  6. 68 Service on Government servant
  7. 69 Service of summons outside local limits
  8. 70 Proof of service in such cases and when serving officer not present
  9. 71 Service of summons on witness
  10. 72 Form of warrant of arrest and duration
  11. 73 Power to direct security to be taken
  12. 74 Warrants to whom directed
  13. 75 Warrant may be directed to any person
  14. 76 Warrant directed to police officer
  15. 77 Notification of substance of warrant
  16. 78 Person arrested to be brought before Court without delay
  17. 79 Where warrant may be executed
  18. 80 Warrant forwarded for execution outside jurisdiction
  19. 81 Warrant directed to police officer for execution outside jurisdiction
  20. 82 Procedure on arrest of person against whom warrant issued
  21. 83 Procedure by Magistrate before whom such person arrested is brought
  22. 84 Proclamation for person absconding
  23. 85 Attachment of property of person absconding
  24. 86 Identification and attachment of property of proclaimed person
  25. 87 Claims and objections to attachment
  26. 88 Release, sale and restoration of attached property
  27. 89 Appeal from order rejecting application for restoration of attached property
  28. 90 Issue of warrant in lieu of, or in addition to, summons
  29. 91 Power to take bond or bail bond for appearance
  30. 92 Arrest on breach of bond or bail bond for appearance
  31. 93 Provisions of this Chapter generally applicable to summons and warrants of arrest
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