Section 444:
Service of notices, etc.
(1) Every notice, bill, summons, order, requisition or other document
required or authorised by this Act or any rule, regulation or bye-law made thereunder to be served or
issued by or on behalf of 1[2[the Corporation]], or by any of the municipal authorities specified in section 44 or
any municipal officer, on any person shall, save as otherwise provided in this Act or such rule, regulation
or bye-law, be deemed to be duly served--
(a) where the person to be served is a company, if the document is addressed to the secretary of
the company at its registered office or at its principal office or place of the business and is either---
(i) sent by registered post, or
(ii) delivered at the registered office or at the principal office or place of business of the
company;
(b) where the person to be served is a partnership, if the document is addressed to the partnership
at its principal place of business, identifying it by the name or style under which its business is carried
on, and is either
(i) sent by registered post, or
(ii) delivered at the said place of business;
(c) where the person to be served is a public body, or a corporation, society or other body, if the
document is addressed to the secretary, treasurer or other head officer of that body, corporation or
society at its principal office, and is either--
(i) sent by registered post, or
(ii) delivered at that office;
(d) in any other case, if the document is addressed to the person to be served and
(i) is given or tendered to him, or
(ii) if such person cannot be found, is affixed on some conspicuous part of his last known
place of residence or business, if within the Union territory of Delhi, or is given or tendered to
some adult member of his family or is affixed on some conspicuous part of the land or building, if
any, to which it relates, or
(iii) is sent by registered post to that person.
3[(1A) The service of notices, summons and other documents referred to in sub-section (1) may be made
by delivering or transmitting a copy thereof by registered post acknowledgment due, addressed to the
defendant or his agent empowered to accept the service or by speed post or by such courier services as are
approved by the High Court or by any other means of transmission of documents (including fax message
or electronic mail service) as may be provided by rules made by the High Court.]
(2) Any document which is required or authorised to be served on the owner or occupier of any land
or building may be addressed the owner or the occupier, as the case may be, of that land or building
(naming that land or building) without further name or description, and shall be deemed to be duly
served---
(a) if the document so addressed is sent or delivered in accordance with clause (d) of
sub-section (1); or
(b) if the document so addressed or a copy thereof so addressed, is delivered to some person on
the land or building or, where there is no person on the land or building to whom it can be delivered,
is affixed to some conspicuous part of the land or building.
(3) Where a document is served on a partnership in accordance with this section, the document shall
be deemed to be served on each partner.
(4) For the purpose of enabling any document to be served on the owner of any premises the
Commissioner may by notice in writing require the occupier of the premises to state the name and address
of the owner thereof.
(5) Where the person on whom a document is to be served is a minor, the service upon his guardian
or any adult member of his family shall be deemed to be service upon the minor.
(6) Nothing in sections 442 and 443 and in this section shall apply to any summons issued under this
Act by a court.
(7) A servant is not a member of the family within the meaning of this section.
Notes:
1 Subs. by Delhi Act 12 of 2011, s. 2, for “the Corporation” (w.e.f. 13-1-2012).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for “a Corporation” (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
3. Ins. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 10 (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).