Where the case number is printed
- On the summons, notice or warrant served by the court.
- On every order and judgment of the court, at the top of the first page.
- On the cause list entry for the day the case is listed.
- On the acknowledgement your advocate received at filing, and on the vakalatnama copy in the file.
- On the case-status printout from eCourts, alongside the CNR.
How to read a case number
A case number has three parts: the case type, a serial number and the year. In W.P.(C) 1234/2025, "W.P.(C)" is a civil writ petition, "1234" is the serial and "2025" the year of registration. The case-type codes differ by court — the Gujarat High Court calls a writ an SCA, Patna calls it a CWJC, Kerala writes WP(C) — so the court hubs on this site list the common codes for each court.
Filing number versus registration number
When papers are first presented, the registry gives them a filing number (some courts call it a diary or scrutiny number). Once defects are cured and the matter is admitted to the register, it receives its case number. Both appear in the case record on eCourts; the case number is the one used on cause lists and orders. The CNR — the 16-character eCourts code — is a third, all-India identifier assigned on registration.
Finding the number when you only have a name
- Choose Party Name in the search box on this page.
- Pick the court type, state and, if known, the court; enter the name and the filing year.
- Open the matching case — the case number and the CNR are shown at the top of the record.
- Note both. The CNR makes every future search a single step.
Common questions
What is the difference between a case number and a CNR?
The case number is assigned by the individual court and reused across courts and years. The CNR is a 16-character code unique across all eCourts courts in India. The case record shows both.
My notice shows two different numbers. Which is the case number?
One is usually the filing (or diary) number given at presentation and the other the case number given on registration. The case number is the one with a case-type prefix and a year, such as O.S. 56/2024, and is what the cause list uses.
Can I find the case number from an FIR number?
Not directly through a name or number search, but the case record on eCourts lists the FIR number and police station for criminal cases, so a party-name search in the relevant magistrate court will surface the case and its number.