Serving notices on respondent

There are no fixed attempts laid down. But normally a court proceeds in the following sequence :

i) Direct Service;

ii) Extended Service - to an adult member of the family;

iii)  Substituted Service - affixing a copy at place where R is last known to reside, at a conspicous place, the courthouse and in a locally read newspaper.

Normally Courts insist on the above, before proceeding ex parte

It will suffice to serve notice on respondent or his/her family ONCE, thereafter not required/desirable/permissible under the provisions of Order V CPC.

Affixation or newspaper publication is substitute mode of service (o V R 20 CPC), when the process is received as UNSERVED by either mode of service.