To search court cases on eCourtsIndia, open ecourtsindia.com/search, type a party name, advocate, judge, CNR number or keyword, and press Enter. Search is free and needs no login. It covers 32 crore+ case records (as of September 2026) from the Supreme Court, all 25 High Courts, district and taluka courts on the eCourts network, and 18 tribunal and commission types.
eCourtsIndia is a private platform, not the Government’s eCourts portal (ecourts.gov.in). The official eCourts Services portal is also free to search, and the comparison below shows when to use which. Learn what the eCourts system is.
Tribunals covered include the NCLT, NCLAT and GSTAT, and results usually load in under a second. This guide takes you from your very first search to the filters most people never find, and ends with what to do once you have found your case.
Last updated: 28 September 2026
Maybe you are a lawyer chasing a precedent. Maybe you are a litigant trying to track your own matter. Maybe you are a journalist, a researcher or a business running due diligence on a partner. Whatever brought you here, the starting point is the same, and once you know how the search works you will find what you need in one or two tries instead of ten. This is the beginner’s guide. When you are ready for every filter and URL parameter, move on to the full eCourtsIndia Search Guide.
Key takeaways
- One search bar at ecourtsindia.com/search covers names, advocates, judges, CNRs, case types and the text of orders, where eCourtsIndia has extracted it.
- A CNR gives you an exact match in one step. A name search works when you do not have one.
- The sidebar narrows results by case type, status, court, location and three dates: filing, registration and decision.
- Searching is free. Order downloads cost ₹2 each. They are copies of the order as the court published it, not certified copies. Tracking a case costs ₹5 per case per month, and each WhatsApp or email alert costs ₹0.50 (as of September 2026, see pricing).
- Can’t find a case? If you have its CNR, submit it through Add a Missing Case and eCourtsIndia will try to fetch it.
What can you search on eCourtsIndia?
When you search here you are not just matching case titles. The engine looks across the whole record for every case:
- Party names, the petitioners, respondents, appellants and defendants
- Advocate names, the lawyers who appeared
- Judge names, the presiding judge or bench
- Case type and status, for example bail application, writ petition, civil suit, pending or disposed
- Acts and sections cited
- Court name and location
- AI-generated keywords and summaries
- The text of orders and judgments, where eCourtsIndia has extracted it from the court’s PDF
That last point matters. When you search a phrase like specific performance, you are searching inside the order text, not only the metadata. So even if a case title never mentions your term, you can still find it if an order discusses it.
eCourtsIndia or the official eCourts portal: which should you use?
Both are free to search. The official portal shows the court’s own record. eCourtsIndia puts many courts behind one search bar.
| Official eCourts Services | eCourtsIndia | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | The e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India. The site is designed, hosted and maintained by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) | A private legal-technology platform, not affiliated with the Government or any court |
| How you search | Enter the 16-character CNR and a captcha, or use Case Status to search by case registration number, party name or advocate name | One search bar for names, advocates, judges, CNRs and keywords, with sidebar filters. No login needed to search |
| Coverage | High Courts and district courts. Supreme Court cases are on sci.gov.in | The Supreme Court, all 25 High Courts, district and taluka courts on the eCourts network, and 18 tribunal and commission types |
| Best for | Checking the official record of a case you know | Finding cases across courts by name or topic, and paid tracking with alerts |
Use the eCourts Services case status page or the eCourts Services app on ecourts.gov.in for High Court and district court cases. You can also get a case’s status by SMS: send ECOURTS, a space and the CNR to 9766899899. For the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Supreme Court case status page searches by diary number, case number, CNR, AOR code or party name.
Step 1: How do I run my first search?
Go to ecourtsindia.com/search. You will see a clean search bar with placeholder text along the lines of Search cases, orders, judgments, CNR numbers. Type whatever you are looking for. It could be a person’s name like Ram Kumar, a company like Reliance Industries, a topic like cheque dishonour, a 16-character CNR number, or an act reference like IPC 302. Press Enter and results usually appear in under a second.
Each result card shows the key facts at a glance: the parties, the advocates, the judge, the case type, the court, the status and the acts cited. Click any card to open the full case page with the hearing history, the orders and the AI analysis. AI summaries are a starting point and can contain mistakes, so read the order itself. For High Court and District Court matters, recent records also capture richer details such as the e-filing number and date, filing type, litigant type and structured party lists. If you are looking up a known case number, our companion guide on how to check court case status online covers the one-shot CNR lookup.
If you mainly want to find every case a person or company is party to, the dedicated litigant search is the name-first route. Our Litigant Search guide explains it step by step.
Step 2: How do I read the results page?
After you run a search, the results page has three parts: a result count, the sidebar filters and the case cards.
The result count sits at the top and tells you how many cases matched and how fast the search ran. The sidebar filters, on the left, are grouped by category and each one shows a count of matching cases. Click any of them, for example a case type or a court, and the results narrow straight away without retyping your query. The case cards in the middle each show the title, the advocates on both sides, the judge, the case type, the court, the status and the acts and sections cited. The external-link icon on a card opens its full detail page. Results are ordered by relevance. Use the date filters to focus on recent or older cases.
Step 3: How do I search by party, advocate or judge name?
Below the main bar is a link for advanced field-specific search. Open it and you get dedicated boxes for Judge, Advocate, Petitioner and Respondent. Instead of searching everywhere for Sharma and drowning in results, you can ask only for cases where Sharma is the petitioner, or only where Sharma is the advocate. You can also combine the main bar with a field box, for example land acquisition in the main bar and State of Maharashtra in the Respondent box, to find land-acquisition matters where that State is the respondent.
The Advocate box helps you find your own appearances or see where an advocate has appeared. Read how to check a lawyer’s track record before you judge anyone by a case list. The Judge box pulls matters before a particular bench, and you can research judge profiles further. The lawyer directory and judge profiles are built from the same case records.
Step 4: How do I narrow results with filters?
Use the left sidebar to narrow results. Every case in the Indian system is classified by type, and the code list runs to 269 case types. You never have to memorise them, because the sidebar only shows the ones relevant to your current search. Here are the ones people reach for most.
| Case type | What it means | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Suit | Original civil dispute | Property disputes, contracts, recovery suits |
| Writ Petition (Civil) | Constitutional remedy under Article 226 (High Courts) or Article 32 (Supreme Court) | Challenging government orders, fundamental rights |
| Bail Application | Application for bail | Criminal cases where bail is sought |
| Criminal Appeal | Appeal against conviction or sentence | Challenging trial-court verdicts |
| Company Petition (IBC) | Insolvency petition at the NCLT | Corporate insolvency and creditor claims |
| Special Leave Petition (Civil) | Petition asking the Supreme Court for special leave to appeal (Article 136) | Supreme Court matters under Article 136 |
| Public Interest Litigation (PIL) | Filed for public welfare | Cases in the public interest |
Alongside case type, the sidebar lets you filter by case status (the platform tracks 71 distinct status codes such as Pending, Disposed, Dismissed, Allowed and Admitted), by court, and by location, where you can start with a state and drill down to a district and then to an individual court complex. You can also filter by court level, case category, judicial section and bench type (single, division or full bench). Some records carry the label “Unrecognized case type”, so if a case-type filter hides your case, remove it and try again. The Case Type Encyclopedia and the Case Status Dictionary explain the codes in plain English, and the current list is always the one in the API enums reference.
Step 5: How do I get more from the search bar?
You do not need any special syntax. You type natural keywords, a name, a case type or a CNR, and the engine matches your words against the order text, the case metadata and the AI summaries all at once. A few habits make a real difference.
- Be specific. A multi-word legal phrase like specific performance or culpable homicide is far more precise than a single common word, because the engine weighs all your terms together.
- Add a distinguishing word. If a name is common, pair it with a city, a court or a topic to cut the noise, for example Ram Kumar cheque dishonour.
- Let the filters do the narrowing. Run a broad keyword search and then click the sidebar facets, case type, status, court and date, to refine without retyping.
- Use the field boxes for people. When you want only cases where someone is the advocate, petitioner or respondent, put the name in the matching advanced field box instead of the main bar.
- Try alternate spellings. Indian names vary, so search both Mohammad and Mohammed, with and without initials, as separate queries.
Step 6: How do I search by CNR number?
If you already have a CNR, this is the fastest route of all. A CNR (Case Number Record) is a unique 16-character code given to each district court and High Court case when it is entered in the court’s Case Information System. A Delhi High Court CNR, for example, starts with DLHC01 and ends with the four-digit year. Tribunal cases get a CNR-style ID from eCourtsIndia (see tribunal CNR). Paste the CNR into the bar, press Enter, and you get an exact match with no filtering and no scrolling. You will find the CNR printed at the top of most court orders and on the filing receipt. Remember that an appeal in a higher court gets its own CNR, so a matter that has moved up will have more than one. If the format is new to you, CNR Number Decoded breaks down each part.
Developers get one more trick with the same code. The partner cause-list CNR endpoint (/api/partner/causelist/cnr/batch, which takes 1 to 100 CNRs in one call) reports whether, when and where each case is next listed without pulling a full cause list.
Step 7: How do I use the date filters?
Dates are the single fastest way to cut a big result set down. The search sidebar gives you three date filters. Developers using the API or MCP also get hearing-date filters, which the Search Guide covers.
| Date filter | What it means | Where you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Filing date | When the case was originally filed | Search sidebar, API, MCP |
| Registration date | When the case was formally registered | Search sidebar, API, MCP |
| Decision date | Date of the final order or judgment | Search sidebar, API, MCP |
Use the decision date to find recently decided cases on a topic, and the filing date to see what is newly arriving in a category. If you want queries like “every case with a hearing next week”, that is where the API or the MCP connector comes in, and the Search Guide shows how.
Step 8: How do I save or share a search?
Every search generates its own URL that you can bookmark or send. Search specific performance, filter to Civil Suits, and the address captures the query and the filter. Send that link to a colleague and they see exactly the same result set. Drop it into a legal memo as a reference. Developers and power users can build these links by hand. Our eCourtsIndia search guide lists every URL parameter and court code, with examples.
Why can’t I find my case? Common mistakes and fixes
- Looking for an Acts filter. The search sidebar has no separate Acts and Sections filter. Type the reference, for example IPC 302 or BNS 103, into the main bar, which reads the full-text index. Developers using the API’s
actsAndSectionsparameter need the full stored name, such as INDIAN PENAL CODE – 302, not the short form. - Dropping the bench suffix from a court code. Delhi High Court is DLHC01, not DLHC. Karnataka High Court’s principal seat at Bengaluru is KAHC01. For the NCLT you also need a trailing zero, so Mumbai is NCLTMB0. A wrong code in a URL returns zero results silently, so the exact code matters.
- Searching too narrowly on the first try. Start broad, then narrow. Begin with one keyword and add filters one at a time. Stacking five filters at once often hides cases that would have been relevant.
- Giving up when a case is missing. A very recent filing can take a few days to appear. If you have the case’s CNR, submit it through Add a Missing Case and eCourtsIndia will try to fetch it from the court record. You can also check the official eCourts Services portal.
Five searches to try
- Pending bail applications in the Delhi High Court. Filter Case Type to Bail Application, Court to Delhi High Court, and Status to Pending.
- Recent murder judgments. Type IPC 302 in the bar, then run a second search for BNS 103, because offences committed on or after 1 July 2024 fall under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Set the Decision date to the last year and open the cases that carry judgments. See our IPC to BNS section mapping.
- Every case involving a company. Type the company name, or use the Petitioner and Respondent field boxes, to see all matters where it is a party across the courts and tribunals eCourtsIndia covers. Being named in a case does not mean a person or company did anything wrong. Our company due diligence guide goes further.
- NCLT insolvency petitions in Mumbai. Filter Case Type to Company Petition (IBC), Court to NCLT Mumbai, and Status to Pending. Our guide to NCLT and NCLAT case status covers tribunal searches.
- Old pending writ petitions. Filter Case Type to Writ Petition (Civil), set the Filing date to end on 31 December 2014, and Status to Pending.
How is eCourtsIndia different from Indian Kanoon, SCC Online and Manupatra?
If you have used Indian Kanoon, SCC Online or Manupatra, here is how eCourtsIndia differs (as of September 2026). Those are legal research databases built mainly around judgments, law reports and statutes from the Supreme Court, High Courts and tribunals. eCourtsIndia is a case-records index. It also covers district and taluka court cases, where most Indian litigation happens, including the parties, advocates, hearing dates and orders of cases that never produce a reported judgment. Of the 32 crore+ records, over 26 crore come from district and taluka courts and over 5 crore from the High Courts (September 2026 counts), with the Supreme Court and the tribunals making up the rest.
You can also search case records by advocate name, including district court matters. This helps you find your own appearances or see where an advocate has appeared. A list of cases does not measure an advocate’s skill or results. eCourtsIndia also gives you case status refreshed from court records and faceted search where every filter shows a count, so you can narrow without retyping. For builders who want this at scale, the same index is available through an API and MCP, which we cover in our guide on building legal due diligence on the eCourtsIndia API.
For more of what the platform can do, see the hidden features of eCourtsIndia for legal professionals. For every filter, parameter and court code, use the full eCourtsIndia Search Guide.
Found your case? What to do next
Finding the case is step one. Most people then want to know when it moves. Open the case page, click Enable alerts, and map it to yourself or your client. From then on, when the court record shows a new order, a new hearing date or a fresh application, an alert goes to you on WhatsApp and email. Tracking costs ₹5 per case per month and each WhatsApp or email alert ₹0.50, and the free plan includes 50 credits a month (as of September 2026). Our step-by-step guide to enabling case alerts shows every screen, and Meet the AI Clerk explains how the built-in clerk summarises orders (₹2 per order) and files your documents. AI summaries can contain errors. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Need a certified copy for filing or evidence? Apply to the court that passed the order. eCourtsIndia downloads are the court’s published PDF, not a certified copy, and our guide shows how to download court orders and judgments for reference. To request removal or masking of a record, see the FAQs & Case Removal page.
A few more tools help once you are in:
- On your phone. The eCourtsIndia app for Android and iOS (listed as “eCourts India” in the stores) carries the same search and your tracked cases.
- In your browser. The Chrome extension (listed as “eCourts India”) shows your upcoming hearings and cause-list listings and alerts you to case updates. It needs a free eCourtsIndia account.
- Hearing lists. The daily cause lists for district and taluka courts are free to browse.
- Criminal matters. Crime Reports lets you browse lakhs of FIR PDFs collected from several states and Union Territories, at ₹1 per PDF (September 2026). These are collected records, not every FIR registered by the police. Our guide on checking FIR status online connects the FIR to the court case.
- A case that is not there. If you have its CNR, submit it through Add a Missing Case.
Tips for better results
- Start broad, then narrow with one filter at a time.
- Type the full multi-word legal term rather than one common word: res judicata, natural justice.
- When a concept has synonyms, run them as separate searches, for example tenant and then lessee, or culpable homicide and then murder.
- Combine case type and status for precision, for example Bail Application plus Disposed.
- Lean on the date filters. They are the fastest way to cut a big result set down.
- Try alternate spellings of Indian names: Mohammad and Mohammed, with and without initials. A name match is a starting point, not proof. Open the case and check the parties’ details before you draw any conclusion, and read why same-name matches mislead.
Start searching
The whole database is free to search. Open ecourtsindia.com/search, start with a single keyword, explore the filters, and see what comes back. The index holds 32 crore+ case records (as of September 2026) and grows every day. If your case is not there yet, check the official portal at ecourts.gov.in, or send us its CNR through Add a Missing Case.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For case-specific questions, consult a qualified advocate.
Spotted an error? Write to support@ecourtsindia.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to search court cases on eCourtsIndia?
Yes. Search, cause lists and the lawyer and judge directories are free, and you do not need to sign in to search. Open ecourtsindia.com/search to start. You pay only for extras (as of September 2026). Case tracking costs ₹5 per case per month and each WhatsApp or email alert ₹0.50. An order download (not a certified copy) or an AI order summary costs ₹2 each. The free plan includes 50 credits every month.
How many court cases can I search on eCourtsIndia?
As of September 2026, the search covers 32 crore+ case records and 125 crore+ court orders and judgments. They come from the Supreme Court of India, all 25 High Courts and their benches, and district and taluka courts in all 36 states and Union Territories that publish on the eCourts network. It also covers 18 tribunal and commission types, including NCLT, ITAT, CESTAT, DRT and consumer commissions. Start at eCourtsIndia search.
Does eCourtsIndia cover district courts, not just High Courts?
Yes. eCourtsIndia indexes district and taluka court records alongside the High Courts, the Supreme Court and the tribunals. Most Indian litigation sits in the district courts, and over 26 crore of its records come from district and taluka courts. Coverage depends on the courts that publish on the eCourts network. Search them free at ecourtsindia.com/search.
What is a CNR number and how do I search with one?
CNR stands for Case Number Record. It is a unique 16-character code given to each district court and High Court case when it is entered in the court’s Case Information System. A Delhi High Court CNR, for example, starts with DLHC01 and ends with the year. Paste the CNR into the eCourtsIndia search bar and press Enter to open that exact case. Tribunal cases get a CNR-style ID from eCourtsIndia. See CNR Number Decoded for the format.
Can I search by advocate or judge name?
Yes. Open the advanced field-specific search under the main search bar. It has separate boxes for Judge, Advocate, Petitioner and Respondent. Court records spell names in different ways, so try variants with and without initials. A list of an advocate’s cases shows where they have appeared. It does not measure their skill or the results they got. The full eCourtsIndia Search Guide covers every option.
What if the case I need is not in the search results?
Try another route first: search the party name instead of the case number, the CNR instead of the name, or a different spelling. Remove filters one at a time. Very recent filings can take a few days to appear. If you have the CNR, submit it through Add a Missing Case and eCourtsIndia will try to fetch it. You can also check the official portal, ecourts.gov.in.
Is eCourtsIndia the official eCourts website?
No. eCourtsIndia is an independent, private legal-technology platform. It is not affiliated with the Government of India, the Supreme Court of India or its e-Committee, or any court. The official portal is ecourts.gov.in, and national pendency data is on the National Judicial Data Grid at njdg.ecourts.gov.in. For anything you will rely on in court, check the official record or a certified copy.
Sources
- eCourts Services (official): case status by CNR, case number, party name or advocate name. Checked 28 September 2026.
- eCourts portal, e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India: High Court and district court services, eCourts Services app, return SMS. Checked 28 September 2026.
- Supreme Court of India: case status by diary number, case number, CNR, AOR code or party name. Checked 28 September 2026.
- eCourtsIndia: case search (sidebar filters, court codes such as KAHC01). Checked 28 September 2026.
- eCourtsIndia: pricing (tracking, per-channel alerts, order downloads, AI summaries, free plan). Checked 28 September 2026.
- eCourtsIndia: request a missing case by CNR. Checked 28 September 2026.
- eCourtsIndia: Crime Reports (collected FIR records). Checked 28 September 2026.
- eCourtsIndia: FAQs & Case Removal (data sources, removal requests). Checked 28 September 2026.
- Method: coverage figures are eCourtsIndia’s own counts (September 2026). The 269 case-type codes and 71 case-status codes were checked against the eCourtsIndia MCP server (mcp.ecourtsindia.com) on 23 September 2026. Prices, filters and official routes were checked on 28 September 2026. Figures change daily.