(a) Where there are two (2) or more defendants in any suit in courts of law or equity or before judges of the courts of general sessions, the plaintiff may cause a counterpart summons or subpoena to be issued to any county where any of the defendants is most likely to be found, the fact that the counterpart process is issued in the same suit being noted on each process, which, when returned, shall be docketed as if only one (1) process had issued.
(b) If the defendants are not served, the same proceedings shall be had as in cases of other similar process not executed.
(c) The counterpart, when issued from a judge of the court of general sessions, shall be returned within thirty (30) days.