In a historic step the Madhya Pradesh government has started using digital means in judicial process by issuing a new order under which summons and warrants can now be served through WhatsApp, e-mail and text messages. With this step, Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to recognize warrants and summons served through digital means.
According to the gazette notification issued by the Home Department, this order will be applicable in cases where the person concerned uses facilities like WhatsApp, e-mail or text message. If there is no bounce back after sending the e-mail, it will be considered served.
Rules pertaining to this new order have already been prepared in the last one and a half months, so that the court can now directly issue summons and warrants through digital means.
However, this method of service will not be valid for those accused, witnesses or complainants who do not use e-mail, phone numbers or messaging applications. In such cases, staff from the concerned police station will serve the summons and warrants in the conventional way.
Digital service is expected to speed up judicial process. Currently, the conventional method of serving summons and warrants is time consuming, resource-intensive, and burdens government expenditure. Transitioning to digital methods would significantly reduce costs associated with paper, postal services, and logistics.
Moreover, the burden of work related to serving warrant and summons on the employees of the police department will also be reduced which will enable them to focus on other important matters.
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