Service of documents
Section 20 of the Companies Act, 2013 deals with service of documents. A document may be served on a company or an officer thereof by sending it to the company or the officer at the registered office of the company by registered post or by speed post or by courier service or by leaving it at its registered office or by means of such electronic or other mode as may be p The Act came into force on 01 Apr 2014.
(1) A document may be served on a company or an officer thereof by sending it to the company or the officer at the registered office of the company by registered post or by speed post or by courier service or by leaving it at its registered office or by means of such electronic or other mode as may be prescribed:
Provided that where securities are held with a depository, the records of the beneficial ownership may be served by such depository on the company by means of electronic or other mode.
(2) Save as provided in this Act or the rules made thereunder for filing of documents with the Registrar in electronic mode, a document may be served on Registrar or any member by sending it to him by post or by registered post or by speed post or by courier or by delivering at his office or address, or by such electronic or other mode as may be prescribed:
Provided that a member may request for delivery of any document through a particular mode, for which he shall pay such fees as may be determined by the company in its annual general meeting.
Explanation.-- For the purposes of this section, the term courier means a person or agency which delivers the document and provides proof of its delivery.
Section 20, The Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Made under this section, and citing it
6 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
- G.S.R 643(E) companies Incorporation Third Amendment Rules 2022 dated 18.08.2022Rule 2022
- G.S.R NO. 363 Companies (Incorporation) second Amendment Rules 2022 dated 20.05.2022Rule 2022
- Amendment of Schedule VII of the Companies Act,2013Notification 2019
- commencment notification dt 14.08.2019 -CA (Amendment) Act 2019Notification 2019
- Commencement notificationNotification 2018
- Chapter II - The Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014Rule 2014
Another 8 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
- G.S.R. 112(E)-Producer Companies Rules, 2021Rule 2021
- Companies (winding up) Rules 2020Rule 2020
- Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Amendment Rules, 2019.Rule 2019
- Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Amendment Rule 2019Rule 2019
- Companies (Transfer of Pending Proceedings) Rules 2016Rule 2016
- Exemptions to Nidhis under section 462 of CA 2013Notification 2015
- Chapter IX - The Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014.Rule 2014
- Commencement Notification of the Companies Act, 2013Notification 2014
Questions about Section 20
What does Section 20 of the Companies Act deal with?
Section 20 of the Companies Act is headed "Service of documents". A document may be served on a company or an officer thereof by sending it to the company or the officer at the registered office of the company by registered post or by speed post or by courier service or by leaving it at its registered office or by means of such electronic or other mode as may be p
How do I find court cases under Section 20 of the Companies Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Companies Act 20, section 20 Companies Act, section 20 of the Companies Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 20 of the Companies Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 6: most recently G.S.R 643(E) companies Incorporation Third Amendment Rules 2022 dated 18.08.2022 (2022), then G.S.R NO. 363 Companies (Incorporation) second Amendment Rules 2022 dated 20.05.2022 (2022), and 4 more.
When did Section 20 of the Companies Act come into force?
Section 20 of the Companies Act, cited as Companies Act 20, came into force on 01 Apr 2014, having been enacted on 29 Aug 2013. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions5089 words
- 143. Powers and duties of auditors and auditing standards1867 words
- 230. Power to compromise or make arrangements with creditors and members1432 words
- 232. Merger and amalgamation of companies1416 words
- 149. Company to have Board of Directors1403 words
- 217. Procedure, powers, etc., of inspectors1390 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.