Legal notices: when they're legally required and what they must contain

Some notices are statutory prerequisites — a suit against the government or a public officer acting in official capacity requires two months' notice under s.80 CPC. Most others are voluntary demands that shape the record: they fix refusal dates, start interest running, and demonstrate good faith.

What the notice must carry

The sender's authority (your client's instructions), the cause of action in clear terms, the specific demand with a compliance deadline, and the consequence of default. For s.80 CPC notices the statement must enable the government to identify the grievance and consider it — vague notices have been held insufficient and suits thrown out on that ground alone.

Proof and service

Registered post with acknowledgment due (A.D.) is the standard; courier receipts and email trails supplement. Keep the A.D. card — the returned 'refused' cover is itself service in most courts' reading.

SanadAI's drafting library has a legal-notice template with the statutory fields — autofill it from the case file.