#service of process

The Uttarakhand State Consumer Commission ruled that the 30-day period to file a written statement under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 begins only upon receipt of the complete complaint with all annexures, not from the date of mere notice. The District Commission's order closing the opposite party's right to file a written statement was set aside, and the complainant was directed to furnish the full paper book within 30 days.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has ruled that service through WhatsApp and affixation at the last known address constitutes valid substituted service under Order V of the CPC when conventional methods are unavailing. This sets a binding precedent for execution proceedings across the state, empowering litigants to overcome evasion by judgment debtors in an era of digital communication.