If the defendant does not appear for the first and second time, there will be no consequences and the court may issue two or three more summons at least before proceeding to the next step.
If it's a criminal case - when two or four summons are ignored - the court will issue a Non-Bailable Warrant against the defendant which will be sent to the Court Police or Jurisdictional Police Station based on the distance from the defendant’s residence from the court. The defendant may then be arrested - presented before court and will be let off with a warning and payment of something called a recall fee.
If it's a civil case -when ten or fifteen summons are ignored - the court will presume the person to be ex-parte and will continue the case on exparte grounds.
Regards,
Anaita Vas