Section 68 BNSS: Service on Government servant

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 68 BNSS at a Glance

Section 68 BNSS deals with service on Government servant. It replaced Section 66 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 66 →

Section 68 BNSS Bare Act Text

(1) Where the person summoned is in the active service of the Government, the Court issuing the summons shall ordinarily send it in duplicate to the head of the office in which such person is employed; and such head shall thereupon cause the summons to be served in the manner provided by section 64, and shall return it to the Court under his signature with the endorsement required by that section.

(2) Such signature shall be evidence of due service.

Source: Section 68, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 68 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 68 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 applies where the person summoned is in the active service of the Government. The Court issuing the summons shall ordinarily send it in duplicate to the head of the office in which the person is employed.

The head shall cause the summons to be served in the manner provided by Section 64 BNSS and shall return it to the Court under the signature of the head with the endorsement required by Section 64 BNSS. Under Section 68(2) BNSS, such signature shall be evidence of due service.

When Section 68 BNSS Applies

  • Section 68(1) BNSS applies where the person summoned is in the active service of the Government.
  • The Court issuing the summons shall ordinarily send it in duplicate to the head of the office in which the person summoned is employed.
  • The head shall cause the summons to be served in the manner provided by Section 64 BNSS and shall return it to the Court under the signature of the head with the endorsement required by Section 64 BNSS.
  • Under Section 68(2) BNSS, such signature shall be evidence of due service.

Example of Section 68 BNSS

Lalita is in the active service of the Government, and a Court issues a summons to Lalita. Under Section 68(1) BNSS, the Court ordinarily sends the summons in duplicate to the head of the office in which Lalita is employed. The head causes the summons to be served in the manner provided by Section 64 BNSS and returns it to the Court under the signature of the head with the endorsement required by Section 64 BNSS. Under Section 68(2) BNSS, that signature is evidence of due service.

When Section 68 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 68(1) BNSS speaks of a person summoned who is in the active service of the Government. It does not deal with a person summoned who is employed by a private employer.
  • Section 68(2) BNSS speaks of the signature under which the summons is returned to the Court. It does not deal with the service of a summons outside the local jurisdiction of the Court, which Section 69 BNSS deals with.

Section 68 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 68 BNSS replaced Section 66 CrPC from 1 July 2024.

Section 68 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 66 CrPC. Section 68(1) BNSS refers to Section 64 BNSS where Section 66(1) CrPC referred to Section 62 CrPC.

Each sub-section below names its own source.

FAQs on Section 68 BNSS

When does Section 68 BNSS apply?▼

Section 68(1) BNSS applies where the person summoned is in the active service of the Government.

To whom does the Court send the summons under Section 68 BNSS?▼

The Court issuing the summons shall ordinarily send it in duplicate to the head of the office in which the person summoned is employed.

What is evidence of due service under Section 68 BNSS?▼

Section 68(2) BNSS says that such signature shall be evidence of due service. The signature is the one under which the head returns the summons to the Court.

What changed from Section 66 CrPC to Section 68 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 68 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 66 CrPC. Section 68(1) BNSS refers to Section 64 BNSS where Section 66(1) CrPC referred to Section 62 CrPC.

Section 68 BNSS: Sub-sections Explained

Section 68(1) BNSS: Service on Government servant

▶

Bare Act Text

(1) Where the person summoned is in the active service of the Government, the Court issuing the summons shall ordinarily send it in duplicate to the head of the office in which such person is employed; and such head shall thereupon cause the summons to be served in the manner provided by section 64, and shall return it to the Court under his signature with the endorsement required by that section.

Previous Law

CrPC 66 → Section 68(1) BNSS

Section 68(2) BNSS: Service on Government servant

▶

Bare Act Text

(2) Such signature shall be evidence of due service.

Previous Law

CrPC 66(2) → Section 68(2) BNSS

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 ·