What Is a CNR Number?
CNR full form, what the 16-digit number means, how to find your CNR, and how to check case status online by CNR on the official eCourts portal or in Claw.
Explainer · Case Status · Last verified 6 October 2026
The CNR full form is Case Number Record. A CNR number is a unique 16-character alphanumeric code that the eCourts system assigns to every case in India. It is permanent across the life of the case and across courts. To check status, open services.ecourts.gov.in, choose the CNR Number tab, enter the 16 characters and the captcha. You can also create a free Claw account and search by party name or case number, with alerts.
- CNR full form: Case Number Record. It is the unique 16-character code for a case in the eCourts network.
- It is unique. One CNR points to exactly one case across eCourts-connected district and subordinate courts.
- It never changes for the life of the case, even after transfer or adjournment.
- Official status check: services.ecourts.gov.in, Case Status, CNR Number tab, with captcha.
- No CNR? Find it by party name, case number or advocate name on the portal, or in Claw with a free account.
- Last verified: 6 October 2026.
01What is the full form of CNR number?
CNR full form: Case Number Record. A CNR number is the unique 16-character code that the eCourts system assigns to a case when it is registered in a district or subordinate court. No two cases share one, and it stays the same for the whole life of the case.
Before CNR numbers, each court used its own local numbering. A case number like "CS 123/2022" exists in many courts, so it meant little on the portal unless you knew the exact court complex, court type and year. The eCourts Mission Mode Project, run under the Department of Justice, introduced the CNR so that one number can pull up one case anywhere in the system.
One CNR number points to exactly one case on the eCourts portal, whichever district court in India holds the file.
People search for "CNR full form", "CNR number full form", "CNR full form in court" or "what CNR number means". All of them ask the same thing. The CNR number means the Case Number Record, the one code that identifies your case on eCourts.
02How to find your CNR number
There are four common ways to find a CNR. Start with the first one that applies to you.
1. Filing receipt or acknowledgement
When a case is filed in an eCourts-connected court, the receipt or acknowledgement normally shows the CNR. This is the fastest way. Photograph it and save it.
2. An order or judgment copy
Orders downloaded from eCourts, and many certified copies, show the CNR near the top with the case details. Check the header of any order you already hold.
3. Search the eCourts portal by party name or case number
Go to services.ecourts.gov.in, choose Case Status, select the state, district and court complex, then search by party name, case number, filing number or advocate name. Open the case from the result list and the CNR is shown in the case details.
4. Ask your advocate or the court clerk
Your advocate should have it in the case file. If not, the court office can give it to you from the case record.
Which courts have a CNR
CNR numbers are for district and subordinate courts on the eCourts network. High Courts and the Supreme Court use their own case numbers and portals.
03How to find a case using its CNR number
The official source is the eCourts Services portal, run by the Government of India. Use it as your primary source. Here are the steps.
- Open services.ecourts.gov.in.
- Choose Case Status, then the CNR Number tab.
- Type the 16-character CNR exactly as written. Do not add spaces or hyphens.
- Enter the captcha and click Search.
- Read the case stage, next hearing date, parties, and the order list on the result page.
- Click an order date to open the order as a PDF, where the court has uploaded it.
The eCourts Services mobile app has the same CNR search, and it lets you save cases to a list. The portal layout changes from time to time, so if a tab name looks different, look for the CNR option under Case Status.
04Methods table: find a CNR and track a case by CNR
Use this table to pick the right method for what you already have.
| Method | What you need | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track a case by CNR | The 16-character CNR and the captcha | services.ecourts.gov.in, Case Status, CNR Number tab | Most exact method. One CNR returns one case. |
| Find your CNR from a receipt or order | Filing receipt, acknowledgement or any downloaded order | Top of the document | Fastest way. Save a photo of it. |
| Find your CNR by party name | State, district, court complex, party name and year | services.ecourts.gov.in, Case Status, Party Name | Open the matching case, the CNR is in the details. |
| Find your CNR by case number | Case type, number and year, plus the court | services.ecourts.gov.in, Case Status, Case Number | Works well when you know the exact court. |
| Find your CNR by advocate name or filing number | Advocate name or filing number and year | services.ecourts.gov.in, Case Status | Useful when you hold a diary or filing number only. |
| Search without a CNR across all benches | Party name or case number | Claw (free account needed) | Covers 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with alerts. |
05How to read a CNR number
A CNR is always 16 characters. An example from the official eCourts format is MHAU019999992015. It breaks into three parts.
| Part | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| State code | First 2 | Two-letter code for the state or union territory | MH = Maharashtra |
| District and court establishment code | Next 4 | Identifies the district and the court establishment | AU01 |
| Serial number | Next 6 | Running number of the case in that establishment | 999999 |
| Year | Last 4 | The year of registration | 2015 |
You do not need to decode it. The portal reads the full string. But knowing the shape helps you spot a typing error, such as a wrong year or a missing character, before a search fails.
06Case status words explained
The result page uses short status words. This is what each one means.
| Status word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pending | The case is still being heard. No final decision yet. |
| Disposed | The court has finished the case. A final order or judgment has been passed. |
| Listed | The case is on the cause list for a hearing on the date shown. |
| For orders | Arguments are done or a point is heard, and the court will pass an order on the date shown. |
| Reserved | The judge has heard the matter and kept the judgment for a later date. |
| Adjourned | The hearing was moved to a new date. |
07Next hearing date and cause list
The result page shows the next hearing date. Courts update it after each hearing, so a date that looks old may only mean the update is pending. To see the day-wise list of matters, use the Cause List option on the same portal, choose your court complex and date, and look for your case number.
A cause list shows the case number, parties and court hall for that day. Check the CNR result and the cause list together before you travel to court.
08CNR number vs case number
The case number (such as "CS 45/2023") is the local identifier used inside one court and on its cause lists. The CNR is the system-wide code that works across the whole eCourts portal. Use the case number in court. Use the CNR online.
| Feature | Case Number | CNR Number |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Type + number + year (CS 45/2023) | 16-character alphanumeric code |
| Scope | One court only | Unique across eCourts courts in India |
| Changes? | Can change on transfer or re-registration | Stays fixed for the life of the case |
| Best used for | Court hall, cause lists, orders | Portal search, e-filing, certified copies |
09Common problems and fixes
The portal says "CNR not found"
Check each character first. If it is correct, the case may be very new and not yet uploaded. Wait a day or two and try again. If it still fails, search by party name to confirm the CNR.
The case shown is not yours
You probably have a typo in the CNR. Find the case again by party name and save the correct number.
Orders are missing
Courts upload orders at their own pace. Interim orders can take a day or two. For an urgent order, ask the court office for a copy.
The hearing date looks old
The court may not have updated it. Cross-check the cause list or ask the clerk.
10Check it in one step with Claw
The eCourts portal is the official source, and it works one court complex at a time. Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Create a free Claw account and search CNR Number (the 16-digit Case Number Record / CNR) by party name or case number across every bench, with hearing and order alerts. A free account is needed to run a status search. Sign up is free.
If you know a party name or case number but not the CNR, Claw searches 9,102 courts, benches and forums in one place, and results come back in under 5 seconds. It also covers 30 crore+ judgments, so you can read related rulings next to the status. Once the case is found, hearing and order alerts reach you without repeat searches.
Related guides: the best case search tools in India, case management software for law firms and what case docketing means.
11Frequently asked questions
What is a CNR number?
A CNR number is the unique 16-character code the eCourts system gives to every case registered in a district or subordinate court. It lets you look up the case on the eCourts portal without knowing the court details separately.
What is the CNR full form?
CNR stands for Case Number Record.
How do I find my CNR number?
Check your filing receipt or any downloaded order. If you do not have them, search the eCourts portal at services.ecourts.gov.in by party name, case number or advocate name and open the case, where the CNR is shown. You can also ask your advocate or the court office.
Is a CNR number unique?
Yes. Each CNR points to exactly one case, and it does not change during the life of the case. A local case number can repeat across courts, but a CNR does not.
How do I track a case by CNR number?
Open services.ecourts.gov.in, choose Case Status and the CNR Number tab, enter the 16 characters and the captcha, and search. You see the stage, next hearing date and orders. In Claw, create a free account, search the case, and turn on hearing and order alerts.
Can I check a case without the CNR, by party name or case number?
Yes. The eCourts portal lets you search by party name, case number, filing number or advocate name once you choose the state, district and court complex. In Claw you can search by party name or case number across every bench with a free account.
Can I check by diary number?
A diary or filing number is accepted for some courts, mainly through the filing number search on eCourts. The Supreme Court uses diary numbers on its own portal at sci.gov.in. A CNR is for district and subordinate courts.
Is checking status by CNR free?
The official eCourts portal is free to use. Claw needs a free account to run a status search. Sign up is free.
Which is the official portal for CNR search?
The eCourts Services portal at services.ecourts.gov.in, run by the Government of India, is the official source.
How often is case status updated?
The court updates the record after each hearing or order, so timing depends on the court. A new case or order can take a day or two to appear. For urgent matters, confirm with the cause list or the court office.