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 there under 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.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 20
Section 20 prescribes the legal modes for the service of documents on a company, its officers, the Registrar, and members, validating electronic transmission alongside traditional registered post.
In statutory demand notices under Section 8 IBC or Section 138 NI Act served on companies, always serve the demand at the official registered office obtained from the MCA master data portal via speed post with A/D, establishing conclusive proof of service under Section 20.