UT notifies digital rules for court summons, warrants

Chandigarh: In a push towards digitizing the judicial process, the Chandigarh administration has officially notified new rules under the Home Department to replace traditional paper-based summons and warrants with electronic communication.

The Union Territory, Chandigarh Electronic Processes (Issuance, Service and Execution) Rules, 2026, framed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, empower courts to generate summons and warrants through advanced software such as the Case Information System (CIS) or the dedicated e-summons application. Every electronic document must be encrypted, carry a digital image of the court’s seal, and be authenticated through an eSign by the presiding officer or an authorised official. Importantly, a printout of any electronically generated process will now hold the same legal validity as an original document.

Under the new framework, summons can be served directly via email to a disclosed electronic address or through messaging applications such as WhatsApp. If an email does not bounce back or a messaging app shows a delivery receipt, the court will presume successful service. In cases where electronic contact details are unavailable or digital service fails, the system will fall back on conventional physical delivery by police officers or court officials.

To support the transition, police and courts have been directed to systematically collect digital footprints. During arrests or investigations, authorities must record phone numbers, email addresses, and messaging app details of the accused, victims, and witnesses. However, the electronic contact information of victims and witnesses will not be shared with the accused. In sensitive matters, including sexual offences and crimes against children, the rules strictly prohibit disclosure of the victim’s identity during the service of process.

A dedicated administrative structure has also been put in place to monitor implementation. The State Nodal Agency, headed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), will review the functioning of the new rules across the Union Territory on a monthly basis. At the district level, a District Nodal Agency and a dedicated Summons Cell will operate. Each Summons Cell, led by a Sub-Inspector, will maintain a digital register to track every summons and warrant, ensuring timely service and eliminating delays.