Section 34 of Madras District Police Act, 1865

Service of summonses, &c.—Every summons, notice, or other Criminal process may be served on the party named personally, or be left with some adult male member of his family, or a copy thereof may be affixed on some adult male member of his family, or a copy thereof party failing or neglecting to obey such summons or notice duly served, shall be liable, at the discretion of the Magistrate or Court that issued the process, to a penalty not exceeding ten Rupees unless such person shall be able to prove that he was prevented by unavoidable accident or other satisfactory cause from obeying such summons, notice, or the like.