The eCourts Services app is a mobile application developed by the e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India (through NIC – National Informatics Centre) to allow citizens, litigants, lawyers, courts, and other stakeholders to easily access court-related information using their smartphones.
It offers 24×7 access to key court data: case status, cause lists, court orders, and case history.
It also taps into the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), which is the database covering district and taluka courts, so users can check data for many lower courts in India.
Because of its utility, the app has earned recognition — it received the Digital India Award for revolutionary court information access.
Key Features of the App
Here are the main features of the eCourts Services app and how it helps users:
1. Search by CNR Number
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Every case in district or taluka courts is assigned a CNR (Case Number Record), a 16-character alphanumeric code.
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Using the app, you can enter the CNR (without hyphens or spaces) to check the current status of the case and see its full history. (eCourts)
2. Alternative Search Methods
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If you don’t have the CNR, the app also supports searching by:
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Case number
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Party name (petitioner/respondent)
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Advocate name or their bar code
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FIR number
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Filing number
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Relevant Act or Case Type
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These search options make it more flexible for different users (litigants, advocates, etc.).
3. Case Details and History
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Once you search for a case, the app shows detailed information: case type, registration number & date, CNR, filing date.
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Under “Case Status”, you can see first hearing date, next hearing date, court number, judge designation, and more. (eCourts)
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Expandable sections let you view:
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Petitioner & Respondent and their advocates
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Relevant Acts
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Calendar of hearings (history)
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Judgments / Orders passed
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Transfer details (if case was transferred)
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The History of Case Hearing shows all past hearings. If you tap on a date, you can view what happened on that date.
4. Cause List Feature
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The app gives a Date-wise Cause List: you can check which cases are scheduled in which court on a given date. (e-Committee Supreme Court of India)
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For advocates, there's a special “Date Case List” which shows all cases of that advocate across all courts in a court complex. (eCourts)
5. My Cases / Portfolio
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You can save cases in a "My Cases" tab — it's like your personal case diary.
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In this tab, you can view only cases listed for “today” (or another date you pick).
There is also a refresh button to update case data.
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If you want to back up your saved cases, the app supports export (text file) and import from local storage or Google Drive.
6. QR Code Feature
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The app supports QR code scanning: users can scan a QR code (printed on court files or on the eCourts website) to directly fetch case details on their phone. (e-Committee Supreme Court of India)
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This is very helpful for quick access without manually typing the CNR.
7. Judgments & Orders
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Under each case, you can access all uploaded judgments and orders, via links in the app.
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This gives transparency about what the court has decided so far.
8. Language Support
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The app supports multiple languages. According to the official site, manuals are available in 14 Indian languages. (e-Committee Supreme Court of India)
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On iOS, the app works in a bilingual mode — you can switch languages. (App Store)
Why the App Is Useful (Benefits)
Here are several concrete advantages of the eCourts Services app:
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Accessibility
Users can check case status anytime, from anywhere — no need to physically visit a court or depend on court clerks. (e-Committee Supreme Court of India) -
Transparency
By making judgments, orders, and case history publicly available, the app promotes transparency. -
Convenience for Different Stakeholders
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Litigants can track their own cases.
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Lawyers can monitor all their cases and receive updates.
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Institutional users (government agencies, police) can also use it to track cases. (eCourts)
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Efficient Case Monitoring
With the “My Cases” feature, users can build a personalized portfolio of cases, which helps in managing and tracking them. -
Time-saving
QR code scanning reduces manual typing. Cause lists and calendars help in scheduling. -
Backup & Export
Saved cases can be exported, so you don't lose the list if you change your phone. -
Digital Inclusion
Because of the multilingual support, users from different linguistic backgrounds can use the app effectively. -
Award‑winning
The app’s recognition (Digital India Award) shows it is well-designed and trusted. (e-Committee Supreme Court of India)
Some Challenges or Limitations
No app is perfect — here are some of the possible downsides or user-reported issues:
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User Reviews: Some users complain that the app gets stuck (e.g., drop-down menus not working) or the performance is slow.
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Internet Dependence: It requires a stable internet connection; poor connectivity can hamper its use. (Chrome Stats)
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Delay in Order Uploads: According to some users, court orders may take time (a few days) to be uploaded, so they don’t always appear in the app immediately.
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Device Compatibility: Some people on Reddit reported the app not working on newer or certain Android phones. (Reddit)
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Limited Document Details: The app gives status, orders, and judgments but does not always provide full pleadings or detailed court filings.
How to Use the eCourts Services App: Step-by-Step (Simple Guide)
Here is a basic tutorial on how to use the app:
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Install the App
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For Android: Download from Google Play Store. (e-Committee Supreme Court of India)
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For iOS (iPhone/iPad): Download from Apple App Store. (App Store)
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Open and Select Court Type
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When you open the app, you can choose whether to search in District / Taluka Courts, High Courts, or both.
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Set this depending on your needs.
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Search for a Case
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By CNR: Enter the 16-digit CNR (without hyphens). (eCourts)
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By Party Name: Go to “Search by Party Name”, choose court complex, enter at least 3 letters, select year, status (pending or disposed), and search.
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By Other Options: Use case number, filing number, FIR number, advocate name, etc.
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View Case Details
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After search, tap on the case row/link.
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Expand different sections: Case Status, History of Hearing, Petitioner/Respondent, Judgments/Orders.
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Use “Add Case” button (if you wish) to save the case.
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Use My Cases
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Open “My Cases” tab to see saved cases.
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View “Today’s Cases” or choose another date.
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Use “Refresh” to get the latest updates.
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To back up your list, go to Export (create a text file) or Import from storage / Google Drive.
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Use Cause List Feature
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In the app, navigate to “Cause List” or “Date Case List”.
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Select court complex and date to view which cases are listed. (eCourts)
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Scan QR Code (if available)
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If you have a QR code (from a court file or printout), scan it using the app to directly fetch case details. (e-Committee Supreme Court of India)
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Impact and Importance of the App
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Judicial Transparency: The app helps demystify court processes. Ordinary citizens can see how court cases are going without going to court physically.
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Reduced Load on Court Staff: Since people can check case status themselves, it reduces repetitive queries to court registries.
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Empowering Litigants: People who don’t have lawyers or travel difficulties benefit a lot — they can stay informed about their case.
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Advocate Efficiency: Lawyers can manage their portfolio of cases more easily via “My Cases” — they don’t need to go court by court.
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Modernizing Judiciary: The app supports India’s digital justice mission — making courts more accessible, data-driven, and efficient. This aligns with the broader eCourts Project under the Department of Justice. (Department of Justice)
Suggestions / Improvements (Based on Feedback)
Based on user reviews and feedback, here are some suggestions for improving the app further:
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Improve App Performance: Fix bugs like drop-down menus not working or app freezing.
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Offline Mode or Caching: Provide some offline functionality (e.g., cached case history) for users with weak internet.
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Faster Uploads: Encourage courts to upload orders and judgments more promptly.
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Better Compatibility: Ensure the app works smoothly on newer Android / iOS versions.
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More Detailed Documents: Provide access to more detailed court documents, not just status and orders.
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Push Notifications: (If not already) Give alerts for case events like adjournment, order upload, next hearing.
Conclusion
The eCourts Services app is a highly useful tool for making the Indian justice system more transparent, accessible, and efficient. It empowers litigants, advocates, and other stakeholders by giving them real-time access to case status, court orders, and hearing history — all in the palm of their hand. While there are some limitations (performance, delay in order uploads), the app's strengths and its alignment with India’s Digital Judiciary vision make it a very important innovation.
If you are involved in any court case (litigant or lawyer), using this app can save you a lot of time and help you stay updated more conveniently.