Sections 29 and 30 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

Section 29 CPC governs service in India of summonses and other processes issued by specified Civil or Revenue Courts outside the ordinary territorial application of the Code. Section 30 gives Civil Courts procedural powers relating to discovery, interrogatories, admissions, documents, witnesses and proof by affidavit.

Legal text reviewed: September 6, 2026. The central provisions below should be read with applicable Orders and Rules in the First Schedule, notifications issued under Section 29, and relevant State or High Court rules.

Section 29 CPC

Service of foreign summonses

Summonses and other processes issued by -

any Civil or Revenue Court established in any part of India to which the provisions of this Code do not extend; or
any Civil or Revenue Court established or continued by the authority of the Central Government outside India; or
any other Civil or Revenue Court outside India to which the Central Government has, by notification in the Official Gazette, declared the provisions of this section to apply,

may be sent to the Courts in the territories to which this Code extends, and served as if they were summonses issued by such Courts.

In brief: Section 29 enables specified summonses and processes originating outside the ordinary CPC territorial framework to be served through Courts in territories where the Code applies.

Section 30 CPC

Power to order discovery and the like

Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, the Court may, at any time, either of its own motion or on the application of any party -

make such orders as may be necessary or reasonable in all matters relating to the delivery and answering of interrogatories, the admission of documents and facts, and the discovery, inspection, production, impounding and return of documents or other material objects producible as evidence;
issue summonses to persons whose attendance is required either to give evidence or to produce documents or such other objects as aforesaid; and
order any fact to be proved by affidavit.

In brief: Section 30 is an enabling provision. It authorizes the Court, subject to prescribed procedural limits, to manage discovery and evidence by ordering interrogatories, admissions, inspection and production, summoning witnesses, and directing proof by affidavit.

Important amendment note

Section 29 was substituted by Act 2 of 1951, section 6, with effect from April 1, 1951.

Official reference: Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - India Code. For practical procedure under Section 30, also verify the applicable provisions of Orders XI, XII, XIII, XVI and XIX, as relevant, together with amendments applicable to commercial disputes.