Gujarat High Court Civil Manual (subordinate court practice), 1960
No public officer, whose absence from duty may be detrimental to the public service, should ordinarily be summoned to give evidence, and if summoned, he may on his application or on that of either party, be examined immediately under rule 16 of Order XVIII of the Code of Civil Procedure. Ordinarily a commission should be issued for the examination of such officer, as provided in rule 4 of Order XXVI. Where a summons is necessary, it should be sent through the Head of the Office to which the officer belongs.