Police cannot send notices via WhatsApp or electronic methods: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that police cannot serve notices to accused individuals under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) or the Indian Code of Citizens Suraksha Samitra (BNSS) 2023 through WhatsApp or other electronic methods.

A bench comprising Justices A.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal directed all states and Union Territories to ensure compliance with the prescribed legal procedures.

The court instructed that notices under Section 41A of the CrPC, 1973, or Section 35 of the BNSS 2023 must only be issued through modes permitted by the respective laws.

The directive aims to standardize the process and prevent misuse of technology in legal procedures.