If anyone is unresponsive to a summons also known as legal notice the court would respond by or the course of action of the court would be initiating ex-parte legal proceedings which would entail the plaintiff proving his claim through the legal procedure as well as by evidencing supporting his claim. The Indian courts though usually provide yet another chance to the person unresponsive to a summons by resending it.
Summons according to a civil lawyer are of two types; firstly; normal summons if the other party resides or is doing business in the local jurisdiction of the court in which case the court notice would be sent via process server medium who is essentially a court employee with summoning responsibility. None other than he himself would deliver the summons and make a note on the reverse of the summons copy for the court’s review and consideration.
Secondly, if the party happens to live outside the court’s jurisdiction then dasti legal notice is a provision which means hand delivery of court notice wherein the party itself ought to ensure that the summons is delivered presenting proof of mode of delivery; a delivery slip of post office for example and evidencing delivery in court. In case of any confusion regarding legal aspects in your city, local lawyers must be contacted. For Kolkata matters, consult with civil lawyers in Kolkata.
Criminal proceedings rule is stricter with the court issuing bailable or non-bailable warrant should the person not respond to a legal notice. In India though, a bailable warrant is usually issued by the court at first in which case the person summoned is required to give a bail guarantee and he is duty-bound to be present in court on the mentioned date in the warrant. In the case of a non-bailable warrant, there would be arraignment of the person and the person would be presented in the court or in other words, court appearance of the person would be arranged by the police.
In case of summons in a civil case, people filing the case as plaintiffs and the opponents are defendants, the plaintiff’s position is stronger and there is a strong possibility that an ex-parte order would benefit the plaintiff.
In the case of criminal summons, the court would probably issue bailable as well as a non-bailable warrant against the defendant. The court may even proclaim the defendant to be an absconder and an offender, with notice published in a newspaper and as if this wasn’t enough, the court may even have a lien on the property.
No response from a person to a court notice would result in the court issuing an arrest warrant against the person. In extreme cases, lookout notice may be issued as well.