Section 66 CrPC: Service on Government servant

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 66 CrPC at a Glance

Section 66 CrPC deals with service on Government servant. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 68 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 68 →

What Section 66 CrPC Says

66. Service on Government servant

(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 62, 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 66, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 66 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 66 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 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 62 CrPC and shall return it to the Court under the signature of the head with the endorsement required by Section 62 CrPC. Under Section 66(2) CrPC, such signature shall be evidence of due service.

When Section 66 CrPC Applies

  • Section 66(1) CrPC 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 62 CrPC and shall return it to the Court under the signature of the head with the endorsement required by Section 62 CrPC.
  • Under Section 66(2) CrPC, such signature shall be evidence of due service.

Example of Section 66 CrPC

Kavita is in the active service of the Government, and a Court issues a summons to Kavita. Under Section 66(1) CrPC, the Court ordinarily sends the summons in duplicate to the head of the office in which Kavita is employed. The head causes the summons to be served in the manner provided by Section 62 CrPC and returns it to the Court under the signature of the head with the endorsement required by Section 62 CrPC. Under Section 66(2) CrPC, that signature is evidence of due service.

When Section 66 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 66(1) CrPC 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 66(2) CrPC 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 67 CrPC deals with.

Section 66 CrPC Under BNSS 68: What Changed

Section 66 CrPC is now covered under Section 68 BNSS.

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.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 66 vs BNSS 68) →

FAQs on Section 66 CrPC

When does Section 66 CrPC apply?▼

Section 66(1) CrPC applies where the person summoned is in the active service of the Government.

To whom does the Court send the summons under Section 66 CrPC?▼

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 66 CrPC?▼

Section 66(2) CrPC 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.

Where is Section 66 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

Section 66(1) CrPC is found in Section 68(1) BNSS and Section 66(2) CrPC in Section 68(2) BNSS. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 from 1 July 2024.

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

Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 ·