Urgent Need To Approve Amended Rules For Issuing Notice/ Summons By Email In Commercial Courts: Karnataka High Court To State

The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to inform by February 25, on the status of the recommendation made by the High Court for amendment of rules allowing service of notices/summons through email in the Commercial courts at Bangalore.

Justice R Devdas while hearing the petition filed by Advocate Anirudh Suresh said, “The State government should be informed that there is an urgent need to approve the rules for service of notice through email.”

Suresh informed the court about the Registrar General of the High Court submitting the Amendment to the existing rules on March 15, 2024. He said “Thereafter several directions were given by this court to secure instruction regarding the status of the approval of rules, in relation to service of notices or summons through email. But till now the state government has not come back to this court nor have the rules been approved by the Governor.”

Further he submitted that in Delhi, Bombay and other states the rules have been amended enabling service of summons through email.

Following which the court said “Relist the matter on February 25. A copy of the order be served on Additional Government Advocate who shall secure instructions in writing as to the status of the recommendation made by this court for amendment of rules.”

The plea prays for a direction to the respondents to issue a notification enabling service of summons through email. Alternatively, directing the Commercial court at Bengaluru or Registrar general, City Civil Court or any other appropriate authority through notification, to frame rules to enable service of summons through electronic mail for matters before the Commercial court.

Case Title: Anirudh Suresh AND Honourable High Court of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 12426/2023