What Is a CNR Number?
What a CNR number is, how to read one, how to use it to track a case on eCourts, and why every litigant and advocate should record it the moment a case is filed.
Explainer · Court Procedures
When a case is filed in any district or subordinate court in India, the court system assigns it a unique identifier called a CNR number. That number is the single most reliable way to check the status of that case, download orders, and confirm the next hearing date, without needing to know the court name, state, or year the case was filed. This guide explains what a CNR number is, how to read its parts, where to find yours, and how to use it.
- CNR stands for Case Number Record. It is a 16-character unique identifier for every district and subordinate court case in India's eCourts network.
- It is unique across the whole system. Unlike a local case number, a CNR number points to exactly one case in all eCourts-connected courts.
- It never changes. The CNR number stays fixed for the entire life of the case, even if the matter is adjourned or transferred.
- Use it on the eCourts portal at services.ecourts.gov.in to check status, hearing dates, and download orders.
- High Courts and Supreme Court use different systems. CNR numbers are for district and subordinate courts only.
01What is a CNR number?
CNR stands for Case Number Record. It is a 16-character unique code assigned to every case filed in a district or subordinate court that is connected to the eCourts system in India.
Before CNR numbers existed, each court used its own local numbering. A case number in the Delhi District Courts, for example, meant nothing to the portal unless you also knew which court complex, which court type, and which year to look in. That made online lookups slow and error-prone.
The eCourts Mission Mode Project, run by the Department of Justice, introduced the CNR number to solve this. One number, entered anywhere on the eCourts portal, pulls up the full case record instantly, regardless of which state or district court holds the file.
One CNR number is all you need to pull up a case record on the eCourts portal, regardless of which district court in India holds the file.
02How to read a CNR number
A CNR number is always 16 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. Here is an example: DLCT010012342016.
Break it into four parts:
| Part | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| State code | First 2 | Two-letter code for the state or union territory | DL = Delhi |
| Court code | Next 2 | Two-letter code identifying the specific court establishment | CT = a court complex code |
| Court number | Next 2 | The sequential number of the court within the establishment | 01 |
| Case sequence | Next 7 | The running case number in that court for that year | 0012342 |
| Year | Last 4 | The year the case was filed | 2016 |
You do not need to decode this yourself. The eCourts portal reads the whole 16-character string and returns the case record. But knowing the structure helps you spot a misprint, such as a wrong year digit or a transposed character, before you waste time on a failed search.
Tip on state codes
State codes in CNR numbers follow the eCourts system codes, which are not always the same as the ISO state abbreviations. If a search fails, double-check the first two characters against the state list on the eCourts portal.
03Why the CNR number matters
The CNR number is the single most reliable link between a physical court file and its digital record. Here is why that is important in practice.
Case numbers alone are not unique
A case number such as "CS 123/2022" exists in dozens of courts across India. Without the court name, district, and state, that number is ambiguous. The CNR number embeds all of that context in one string, so it is unique across the entire eCourts system.
It never changes
Once assigned, a CNR number stays with the case for its entire life. Whether the case is adjourned, transferred, or decided years later, the same CNR number remains the correct one. A local case number can sometimes be renumbered if a case is transferred or re-registered, but the CNR stays fixed.
It works across all eCourts interfaces
You can enter a CNR number on the main eCourts portal, on the eCourts mobile app, and on state-specific district court websites. All of them read the same number and return the same case record. This means a litigant in Mumbai can check a case in a Patna court without knowing anything about Patna court procedures.
It is required for many formal steps
Several formal requests, such as applying for certified copies of orders, e-filing additional documents, or linking a case to a lawyer account, require the CNR number. A lawyer who does not record the CNR at the time of filing will have to find it again later, which takes extra time.
04How to find your CNR number
There are three main ways to find a CNR number.
1. From the court at the time of filing
When a case is filed in a district or subordinate court connected to the eCourts system, the court should provide a receipt or acknowledgement that includes the CNR number. This is the fastest and most reliable way to get it. Record it and keep it safe.
2. From the eCourts portal by searching case details
If you do not have the CNR number, go to the eCourts portal at services.ecourts.gov.in. Select the state and district, then search by party name, advocate name, or filing number. When the case appears in the results, its CNR number is shown in the record.
Once you have the CNR number from this search, note it down. Future lookups will be faster.
3. From the district court website directly
Each state has a district courts portal under the eCourts network, usually at districts.ecourts.gov.in. The process is the same: search by known details to find the case, then copy the CNR number from the result.
High Courts and Supreme Court
CNR numbers apply to district and subordinate courts in the eCourts system. The Supreme Court and High Courts use different case numbering systems and separate portals. For High Court case tracking, each High Court has its own website. For Supreme Court matters, the Supreme Court portal at sci.gov.in is the right place.
05How to use a CNR number
Once you have the CNR number, using it is straightforward.
On the eCourts portal
Go to services.ecourts.gov.in. On the home screen, look for the "CNR Number" tab or search box. Enter the 16-character CNR number and submit. The portal returns the case record, showing the case type, filing date, current status, next hearing date, and a list of orders and documents.
On the eCourts mobile app
The eCourts app, available on Android and iOS, has a CNR number search on its home screen. Enter the number to get the same information on your phone. The app also lets you save cases to a watchlist so you get updates without searching again each time.
For downloading orders
From the case record page, you can usually access the orders and judgments uploaded by the court. Click the order date or document link to download the PDF. Not all courts upload all orders promptly, but most do for final orders and key interim orders.
For e-filing and certified copies
If you are using the eCourts e-filing system to submit documents, or applying for a certified copy through the portal, the CNR number is a required field. Have it ready before you start those processes.
06CNR number vs case number: what is the difference?
The case number and the CNR number are related but different.
The case number (also called the filing number or diary number) is the local identifier the court assigns when the case is first accepted. It typically looks like "CS 45/2023" or "RC 12/2022" and is used in day-to-day court proceedings, cause lists, and orders. It is court-specific and is meaningful only within that court establishment.
The CNR number is the national unique identifier generated by the eCourts system. It encodes the court, the case sequence, and the year in a single string that works across the entire portal. While a case number may be ambiguous if you do not know the court, a CNR number points to exactly one case in the whole system.
In practice, use the case number when you are in court, on cause lists, and in correspondence with the court. Use the CNR number when you are looking up the case online or doing anything on the eCourts portal.
| Feature | Case Number | CNR Number |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Type + sequence + year (e.g. CS 45/2023) | 16-character alphanumeric code |
| Scope | One court only | Unique across all eCourts courts in India |
| Changes? | Can change if case is transferred or re-registered | Stays fixed for the life of the case |
| Used for | Court proceedings, cause lists, orders | eCourts portal searches, e-filing, certified copies |
| Courts covered | All courts | District and subordinate courts on eCourts only |
07Common problems and how to fix them
Even with the right CNR number, lookups can sometimes fail. Here are the most common reasons and what to do.
The portal says "CNR not found"
This usually has one of three causes. First, a typing error: re-enter the number carefully and check each character. Second, the case is very recent and the court has not yet uploaded the record to the eCourts system. Wait 24 to 48 hours and try again. Third, the court is not yet connected to the eCourts network, which is uncommon but still possible in some remote locations.
The case details look wrong
If the CNR number returns a case that does not match your matter, the number you have may have a typo. Go back to the party-name search on the portal to find the correct CNR number, then replace the one you had saved.
Orders are not showing up
Courts upload orders at their own pace. Interim orders may take a day or two; final orders can take longer. If an important order is not yet on the portal, contact the court clerk directly or visit the court to collect a physical copy.
The hearing date is blank or outdated
Hearing dates on the eCourts portal are updated by the court after each hearing. If the date looks old, the court may not have updated it yet. Cross-check with the physical cause list or ask the clerk.
08Where Claw fits
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.
CNR numbers apply to district and subordinate courts in the eCourts network. For advocates and legal teams who also need to track matters across High Courts, the Supreme Court, and tribunals, alongside their district court cases, a single platform that covers all of those is more efficient than switching between separate portals.
Claw's case management module tracks matters across 8,457 plus courts, including all states, district courts, tribunals, and the Supreme Court. It pulls case updates automatically, sends WhatsApp and email alerts, and can read a court order to schedule the next compliance reminder. The CNR number can be used to locate and link a district court case in the Claw system, so all your matters sit in one place.
For a broader look at how legal teams manage their case portfolios, see the best case management software for law firms in India. For related procedural concepts, see what a Vakalatnama is and what case docketing means.
09Frequently asked questions
What does CNR stand for in court?
CNR stands for Case Number Record. It is the unique 16-character identifier that the eCourts system assigns to every case filed in a district or subordinate court connected to the national eCourts network. It lets anyone look up a case on the eCourts portal without needing to know the court name, district, or state separately.
How do I find the CNR number for my case?
The quickest way is to check the receipt or acknowledgement the court gave you when the case was filed. If you do not have that, go to services.ecourts.gov.in, select your state and district, and search by party name or advocate name. The CNR number appears in the case record when the case is found.
Is a CNR number the same as a case number?
No. A case number (such as CS 45/2023) is the local identifier used within a specific court and on cause lists. A CNR number is the system-wide unique code that works across the entire eCourts network. The case number can be ambiguous across courts; the CNR number is always unique to one case.
Can I track my case using the CNR number?
Yes. Enter the CNR number on the eCourts portal at services.ecourts.gov.in or on the eCourts mobile app to see the current status, next hearing date, and orders. The eCourts app also lets you save cases so you receive updates without searching each time.
Does a CNR number work for High Court or Supreme Court cases?
No. CNR numbers are specific to district and subordinate courts that are connected to the eCourts network. High Courts each have their own portal and numbering system. The Supreme Court uses its own portal at sci.gov.in. For those courts, you need the case number issued by that court.
What should I do if the eCourts portal cannot find my CNR number?
First, re-enter the number carefully and check for typing errors. If it is still not found, the case may have been filed recently and not yet uploaded to the system. Wait 24 to 48 hours and try again. If the problem continues, use the party-name search on the portal to locate the correct CNR number, or contact the court clerk directly.