202Mode of service of summons or notice

(1) A summons issued by a court acting under this Act shall, if practicable, be served (a) personally on the person to whom it is addressed, or failing him on (b) his authorised agent or (c) an adult male member of his family who is residing with him.

(2) If service cannot be so made, or if any person mentioned in sub-section (1) refuses to accept service, the summons may be served by posting a copy thereof at the usual or last known place of residence of the person to whom it is addressed, or, if that person does not reside in the tahsil in which such court is held, and the case to which the summons relates has reference to land in that tahsil, then by posting a copy of the summons on some conspicuous place in or near the estate wherein the land is situated.

(3) 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, if the court so directs, be served by delivery of a copy thereof to such of those persons as the court nominates in this behalf and by proclamation or publication in a local paper of the contents thereof for the information of the other persons interested in such case.

(4) A summons may, if the court 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 such person under a certificate of posting.

(5) When a summons is served in accordance with the provisions of this section, it shall be deemed to have been duly served.

(6) For the purposes of this section "summons" shall include a "notice" which a court may issue under this Act.