Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about casestatus.in — including how to search for a case, what to do when a case is not found, and how to understand the status terms shown on case pages.
The questions below cover the most common topics: how the CNR system works, what status terms mean, which courts are covered, how data is sourced, and how to get in touch. If you cannot find the answer you need, send us an email at hello@casestatus.in.
What is a CNR number?
A CNR (Case Number Record) number is a unique 16-character identifier assigned to every case in the Indian court system. It encodes the state code, district, court complex, and filing year. For example, a CNR beginning with DL identifies a Delhi court; the following digits identify the specific court complex and case serial number. The CNR is printed on vakalatnamas, hearing notices, and order copies. It is the fastest and most reliable way to locate a specific case because no two cases in the country share the same CNR.
How do I look up a court case?
Enter the 16-character CNR number into the search box on the casestatus.in homepage and press Enter. If you do not have a CNR, try the party-name or case-number search. For Supreme Court cases you can enter the diary number (for example 1234/2025) or the registered case number such as SLP(C) 5678/2025. Results show the current case status, party names, next hearing date, and a full history of hearings. If nothing appears, the case may not yet be in our index.
Why is my case not showing up?
Several reasons can cause a case to not appear: the case was filed very recently and has not yet been indexed; the court handling it is not yet in our coverage area; or the CNR was entered with a typo. Double-check that all 16 characters of the CNR are correct, including any leading zeros. If you searched by party name, minor spelling differences can prevent a match. We are expanding coverage regularly, so some court complexes may not be indexed yet. If you continue to have trouble, contact us with the CNR and we will investigate.
What does "Disposed" mean?
"Disposed" means the case has been formally closed by the court. The word alone does not tell you who won — the actual outcome is in the final order or judgment. Possible disposals include: allowed (decided in favour of the petitioner), dismissed (decided against), settled (parties reached mutual agreement), withdrawn (the filing party chose to withdraw), and abated (a party died without a legal heir being substituted in time). To know the real outcome, read the final order, which is often downloadable on the case page. A disposed case can sometimes be revived through a restoration application.
What does "Pending" mean?
"Pending" means the case is still active and no final decision has been made. A pending case will show a next hearing date — the date on which it is listed before the judge. On that date the judge may hear arguments, record evidence, pass an interim order, or adjourn the matter to a later date. Cases can remain pending for months or years depending on the complexity of the issues, the number of parties, and the court's caseload. Seeing a pending status does not mean nothing is happening — check the hearing history for what was done at each listing.
How often is case status updated?
Case data is refreshed regularly by our automated systems. Most active cases — those with recent hearing activity — are updated within a few days of each hearing. Less active cases may be refreshed less frequently. Newly filed cases typically appear in our index within a few days of filing. For time-sensitive matters such as bail applications or stay orders, we recommend using the official court portal as the authoritative real-time source, since our index may lag by a day or two.
Is casestatus.in free to use?
Yes, casestatus.in is completely free to use. There is no registration, no login required, and no payment for any current feature on the site. You can look up any case in our index, read full case details, view hearing histories, and download available orders at no cost. The service is supported by advertising. We do not charge for individual case lookups or for accessing any part of the site.
What courts does casestatus.in cover?
casestatus.in covers all 25 High Courts across India, District Courts in multiple states, and the Supreme Court of India. Supreme Court cases are searchable by diary number or registered case number. High Court coverage spans both original writ matters and appellate cases. District Court coverage is expanding — not every court complex in every state is indexed yet. We prioritise courts based on search volume and technical feasibility. If a court you need is not covered, let us know through the contact form.
Where does the data come from?
Case data is sourced from publicly available court records. Indian courts make case status information available through official web portals as a public service, and casestatus.in reads that public data, structures it for convenient searching, adds AI-generated summaries where court documents are available, and presents it in a fast mobile-friendly format. We do not create, modify, or interpret case data — we present what the official systems show. casestatus.in is not affiliated with any government body or court administration.
Can I download a case order or judgment?
On case detail pages you can view and download orders and judgments where they are available from official court records. Availability varies by court: Supreme Court and many High Court orders are routinely published online, while District Court documents are available for some but not all courts. Where a document is available you will see a download link beside the relevant hearing entry. Orders are served as PDFs. If no link appears, the court has not published that document online.
Is casestatus.in affiliated with the government or any court?
No. casestatus.in is an independent private service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government body, court administration, or law enforcement agency. We do not have any special or privileged access to court records beyond what is available to the general public. For an official certified copy of a court record, order, or judgment, you must apply to the relevant court registry directly. casestatus.in is a convenience tool for tracking publicly available case information.
What is the difference between a High Court and a District Court?
District Courts are the entry-level trial courts where most cases originate — they handle civil disputes, criminal proceedings, motor accident claims, cheque bounce cases, and family matters. High Courts have both original jurisdiction (cases filed directly in the High Court, most commonly writ petitions under Article 226) and appellate jurisdiction (reviewing decisions from District Courts). Cases at the High Court use designations such as WP (writ petition), FA (first appeal), and CRA (criminal appeal). If you are dissatisfied with a District Court decision, you may appeal to the relevant High Court.
What does 'next hearing date' mean?
The next hearing date is the calendar date on which a case is scheduled to appear before a judge. On that date the matter may be called for arguments, for recording evidence, for passing an interim order, or for any other procedural step. A hearing does not always result in substantive progress — the case may be adjourned to a further date due to requests by counsel, absence of a party, or the court's own schedule. The hearing date shown on casestatus.in reflects the most recently recorded next date. Check back after the scheduled date for an updated status.
Can I track a Supreme Court case?
Yes. Enter the diary number (assigned at filing, in the format 1234/2025) or the registered case number (such as SLP(C) No. 5678/2025 or Civil Appeal No. 9012/2025) in the search box. Our index covers a large and growing number of Supreme Court matters across all case types including SLPs, civil and criminal appeals, writ petitions under Article 32, and transfer petitions. Diary numbers are the most reliable search key before a registered case number has been assigned. Results show the current status, bench composition, and a full history of hearings.
How do I contact casestatus.in?
Send us an email at hello@casestatus.in. We read all messages and aim to respond within a few business days. If you are reporting a missing or incorrect case, please include the CNR number or full case details so we can investigate efficiently. For feature requests, partnership enquiries, or data corrections, email is the best channel. You can also use the contact form on our Contact page.
Still have a question? Email us at hello@casestatus.in and we will get back to you within a few business days. If you are writing about a specific case, please include the CNR number so we can look into it for you.
Related guides
What is a CNR Number?
A CNR number is the unique 16-character case identity used across all Indian courts. Learn how to read it, what each segment means, and where to find yours.
Court Case Status Glossary
A plain-English glossary of Indian court terms — disposed, pending, allowed, dismissed, petitioner, respondent, order, judgment, and more.