CrPC 63→BNSS 65

CrPC 63 to BNSS 65: Service of summons on corporate bodies and societies

Section 63 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 65 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 63 →View BNSS Section 65 →

CrPC 63 to BNSS 65 at a Glance

Section 63 CrPC (Service of summons on corporate bodies and societies) is now Section 65 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 63 to BNSS 65?

Section 65 BNSS reads Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies as its heading where Section 63 CrPC read Service of summons on corporate bodies and societies. Section 65(1) BNSS reads a company or corporation where Section 63 CrPC read a corporation, and names the Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer of the company or corporation where Section 63 CrPC named the secretary, local manager or other principal officer of the corporation and the chief officer of the corporation in India. The Explanation to Section 65 BNSS adds a definition of company and words the definition of corporation differently from the Explanation to Section 63 CrPC. Section 65(2) BNSS adds service on a firm or other association of individuals. Section 65 BNSS is divided into Section 65(1) BNSS and Section 65(2) BNSS where Section 63 CrPC has no sub-sections.

CrPC 63 vs BNSS 65: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section6365
HeadingService of summons on corporate bodies and societiesService of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies
Sub-sectionsNone2 sub-sections

CrPC 63 and BNSS 65: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 63, CrPC 1973

63. Service of summons on corporate bodies and societies.—Service of a summons on a corporation may be effected by serving it on the secretary, local manager or other principal officer of the corporation, or by letter sent by registered post, addressed to the chief officer of the corporation in India, in which case the service shall be deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post. Explanation.—In this section, “corporation” means an incorporated company or other body corporate and includes a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860).
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 65, BNSS 2023

65. Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies.—(1) Service of a summons on a company or corporation may be effected by serving it on the Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer of the company or corporation, or by letter sent by registered post addressed to the Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer of the company or corporation in India, in which case the service shall be deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post. Explanation.—In this section, "company" means a body corporate and "corporation" means an incorporated company or other body corporate registered under the Companies Act, 2013 or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. (2) Service of a summons on a firm or other association of individuals may be effected by serving it on any partner of such firm or association, or by letter sent by registered post addressed to such partner, in which case the service shall be deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post.

When It Applies: CrPC 63 vs BNSS 65

Under CrPC 63
  1. Service of a summons on a corporation may be effected by serving it on the secretary, local manager or other principal officer of the corporation.
  2. Service may instead be effected by letter sent by registered post, addressed to the chief officer of the corporation in India.
  3. Where the summons is sent by letter, the service shall be deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post.
  4. In Section 63 CrPC, corporation means an incorporated company or other body corporate and includes a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Under BNSS 65
  1. Under Section 65(1) BNSS, service of a summons on a company or corporation may be effected by serving it on the Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer of the company or corporation.
  2. Under Section 65(1) BNSS, service may instead be effected by letter sent by registered post addressed to the Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer of the company or corporation in India.
  3. The Explanation to Section 65 BNSS defines company as a body corporate and corporation as an incorporated company or other body corporate registered under the Companies Act, 2013 or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  4. Under Section 65(2) BNSS, service of a summons on a firm or other association of individuals may be effected by serving it on any partner of such firm or association.
  5. Under Section 65(2) BNSS, service may instead be effected by letter sent by registered post addressed to such partner, and the service shall be deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post.

Time Limits: CrPC 63 to BNSS 65

Under CrPC 63
  • Service by letter sent by registered post is deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post.Act text: “in which case the service shall be deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post”
Under BNSS 65
  • Service by letter sent by registered post is deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post.Act text: “in which case the service shall be deemed to have been effected when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post”

What CrPC 63 to BNSS 65 Means in Practice

Section 63 CrPC is found in Section 65(1) BNSS. Section 65(2) BNSS adds service of a summons on a firm or other association of individuals, by serving it on any partner or by letter sent by registered post addressed to such partner.

FAQs: CrPC 63 to BNSS 65

Where is Section 63 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

Section 63 CrPC has no sub-sections, and maps as a whole to Section 65 BNSS. Its main text is found in Section 65(1) BNSS.

Is the text of Section 65 BNSS the same as Section 63 CrPC?▼

No. Section 65 BNSS has a different heading, names different officers in Section 65(1) BNSS, words the Explanation differently and adds Section 65(2) BNSS on service of a summons on a firm or other association of individuals.

Who may a summons on a company or corporation be served on under Section 65 BNSS?▼

Section 65(1) BNSS names the Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer of the company or corporation. Section 63 CrPC named the secretary, local manager or other principal officer of the corporation.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 ·