Section 71 in The Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972
71. Mode of service of summons.
(1)A summons issued by a Revenue Officer or Revenue Court shall, if practicable, be served (a) personally on the person to whom it is addressed, or failing him on (b) his recognised agent, or (c) an adult male member of his family who is residing with him.(2)If service cannot be so made, or if acceptance of service so made is refused, the summons may be served by posting a copy thereof at the usual or last known place of residence of the person to whom it is addressed, or, if that person does not reside in the district in which the Revenue Officer is employed, or the Revenue Court is held, and the case to which the summons relates has reference to land in that district, then by pasting a copy of the summons on some conspicuous place in or near the estate wherein the land is situate.(3)If the summons relates to a case in which person having the same interest are so numerous that the personal service on all of them is not reasonably practicable, it may, if the Revenue Officer or Revenue Court so directs, be served by delivery of a copy thereof to such of those persons as the Officer or Court nominates in this behalf, and by proclamation of the contents thereof for the information of the other persons.(4)A summons may, if the Revenue Officer or Revenue Court so directs, be served an the persons named therein, either in addition to, or in substitution for, any other mode of service, by forwarding the summons by post in a letter addressed to the person and registered under Part III of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 (6 of 1898).(5)When a summons is so forwarded in a letter and it is proved that the letter was properly addressed and duly posted and registered, the Officer or Court may presume that the summons was served at the time when the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.
