A summons sent via a text message might soon count as a notice in judicial proceedings. As per a report by PTI, the Delhi High Court has allowed plaintiffs to send summons via social networks like WhatsApp, text message or email. “The plaintiffs are permitted to serve the defendant… by text message as well as through WhatsApp as well as by email and to file affidavit of the service,” the court said.
Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw was hearing a case filed by Tata Sons alleging that “unwarranted, defamatory and baseless allegations” against one of its officials were being circulated by 35 unidentified email ids. In December last year, the court’s order had compelled ISPs to reveal the identities of the email addresses. While three of the defendants were served summons at their respective addresses, the fourth was served via WhatsApp, email and text message after summons could not be completed at his address.
WhatsApp itself is also in the midst of a court case since august last year following a change in the platform’s privacy policy last year. The messaging platform has been challenged for sharing user account information with its parent company, Facebook to improve the latter's ads and product experiences.