SC allows Service of Notices/Summons/exchange of pleadings via Whatsapp, Telegram and other instant messaging services [Read Order]

Supreme Court and High Court Advocates prayed before the Supreme Court for extending the time where the limitation is to expire during the period when there is a lockdown in view of COVID-19 or the time to perform a particular act is to expire during the lockdown.

The Supreme Court of India, comprising of The Chief Justice, Justice R. Subhash Reddy, and Justice A.S. Bopanna extended all periods of limitation prescribed under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 shall be extended till further order.

Supreme Court considering the issue of the limitation period in addition to it held for the services of all notices, summons and exchange of pleadings as under:

Service of notices, summons, and exchange of pleadings/documents, is a requirement of virtually every legal proceeding. Service of notices, summons and pleadings, etc. have not been possible during the period of lockdown because this involves visits to post offices, courier companies, or physical delivery of notices, summons, and pleadings. We, therefore, consider it appropriate to direct that such services of all the above may be effected by e-mail, FAX, commonly used instant messaging services, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc. However, if a party intends to effect service by means of said instant messaging services, we direct that in addition thereto, the party must also effect service of the same document/documents by e-mail, simultaneously on the same date.

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