SC for digi summons, T police in analog age

Hyderabad: Despite Supreme Court directives to issue summons to accused and witnesses through digital modes such as WhatsApp, the Telangana police is yet to fully utilise this facility.
These digital methods can reduce the burden on police personnel and save time. However, the main concern expressed by the state police is that if a summons is sent through WhatsApp to a number and it is later found that the number is not registered in the name of the recipient, the latter could use this as an alibi during the trial.

While summonses are sometimes sent through WhatsApp and email, the police primarily rely on physical delivery or registered mail, often using both methods to ensure that the summons is acknowledged by the recipient or someone on their behalf.
Police officials told TOI that physical delivery of summons or notices is preferable as they are handed directly to the recipients or their family members. Notices are also pasted on the doors of the recipients and this information is submitted to the court.
However, there are challenges to serving summonses by digital means. Defendants may change their mobile phone number or use a number that is not registered in their name.
“Serving summons through any other messaging platform or email can be problematic if the recipients ignore or delete it after reading it, making it difficult to prove receipt," said one official.
Another official added that in high-profile cases or cases involving VIPs, they usually avoid serving summons electronically as their mobile numbers are often not registered in their names. “The court has said that if the recipient has disabled read receipts (blue tick) on WhatsApp, the notice has to be sent through email or fax. Therefore, it is always safer to deliver the notice physically,” he added.