Section 20 of the Companies Act, 2013: Service of Documents
Section 20 lays down the legally recognised methods for serving documents on a company or its officers and for serving documents on the Registrar of Companies or a member. It covers physical delivery, post, courier and prescribed electronic modes.
Updated: 16 September 2026
Meaning and scope of Section 20
Section 20 of the Companies Act, 2013 deals with service of documents. In practical terms, service is the legally recognised delivery of a notice, communication, record or other document to the person or entity for whom it is intended. The method used should comply with Section 20 and, where electronic service is used, the applicable rules.
Service on a company or its officer - Section 20(1)
Under Section 20(1), a document may be served on a company or an officer by sending it to the company or officer at the company's registered office through registered post, speed post or courier service; by leaving it at the registered office; or through an electronic or other prescribed mode.
Where securities are held with a depository, records of beneficial ownership may be served by the depository on the company through electronic or other prescribed mode.
Service on the Registrar or a member - Section 20(2)
Subject to provisions requiring electronic filing with the Registrar, Section 20(2) permits a document to be served on the Registrar or a member by post, registered post, speed post, courier, delivery at the office or address, or an electronic or other prescribed mode.
A member may request delivery through a particular mode. Where such a request is made, the member must pay the fee, if any, determined by the company in its annual general meeting.
Electronic service under Rule 35
Rule 35 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 supplements Section 20. It permits service on a company, an officer, the Registrar or a member through electronic transmission.
Electronic transmission includes communication to a fax number or email address provided for communications, a designated electronic message board or network, or another electronic means supported by reasonable systems for verifying the sender. The communication should create a record capable of retention, retrieval and review and capable of being rendered into clearly legible tangible form.
| Recipient | Recognised modes |
|---|---|
| Company or officer | Registered post, speed post, courier service, leaving the document at the registered office, and prescribed electronic or other mode. |
| Registrar or member | Post, registered post, speed post, courier, delivery at the office or address, and prescribed electronic or other mode, subject to mandatory electronic filing provisions. |
| Electronic service | Email, fax, designated electronic message board or network, or other qualifying electronic communication under Rule 35. |
What does "courier" mean?
For Section 20, courier service is tied to proof of delivery. Rule 35 also describes courier as a document sent through a courier that provides proof of delivery. Keeping dispatch and delivery evidence is therefore important where proof of service may later be required.
When is postal service treated as effected?
Rule 35 provides a deemed-service rule for delivery by post. For a notice of a meeting, service is treated as effected after forty-eight hours from posting. In other cases, service is treated as effected at the time when the letter would ordinarily be delivered.
Official legal resources
For statutory text, rules, notifications and MCA filing requirements, verify the latest position through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and India Code before acting on a time-sensitive compliance matter.