Every person in a court case wants to know three things: what is the next date, what happened on the last date, and has any order been passed? You can check all of this yourself, free of cost, on official government websites. This guide shows how, step by step.
First, learn these words
- Case status: the present stage of the case and its next date.
- CNR number: a unique number given to every case in district courts. It is 16 characters long, with letters and numbers.
- Cause list: the list of cases a court will hear on a particular day.
- Order or judgment: the decision written by the court.
- Case number: the type, number and year of a case, for example Cr. Misc. 1234 of 2026.
District court cases in Bihar (eCourts)
- Open the eCourts Services portal: https://services.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindia_v6/
- Choose CNR Number and type the 16-character CNR without any hyphen or space. The CNR is usually printed on the court papers.
- No CNR? Click Case Status and search by case number, party name or advocate name, after selecting the State (Bihar), district and court.
- Use Court Orders to read or download orders, and Cause List to see which cases are listed on a day.
By SMS or mobile app
- SMS: the eCourts website says you can know the current status by return SMS. Send ECOURTS <space> your CNR number to 9766899899.
- App: the eCourts Services app is available for Android and iOS, as shown on the eCourts website.
Patna High Court cases
- Open the Patna High Court website: https://patnahighcourt.gov.in/
- Open the Case Status option and search by case type, number and year, or by party name.
- Check the next date, the cause list and the orders passed in your case on the same website.
An imaginary example
Meena (an imaginary name) has a land case in a civil court in Patna. Her court papers show a CNR number. She opens the eCourts portal, chooses CNR Number, types the 16 characters and sees the next date and the last order. Her brother, who has no internet, sends an SMS with ECOURTS and the CNR number to 9766899899 and gets the status on his phone.
If the status is unclear, or the order needs to be understood, discuss it with your advocate.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CNR number?
A unique number given to a case in the district courts. eCourts asks for the 16 digit alphanumeric CNR number without any hyphen or space.
Can I check case status by SMS?
Yes. As per the eCourts website, send ECOURTS, a space and your CNR number to 9766899899.
Is checking case status free?
Yes. The eCourts portal and the Patna High Court website are official government websites and can be used without any fee.
Where do I check a Patna High Court case?
On the Patna High Court website (patnahighcourt.gov.in) under Case Status.
This article is general information and is not legal advice or solicitation, in accordance with the rules of the Bar Council of India.
Related on this site: Patna High Court guide · District courts guide · Anticipatory bail in the Patna High Court
Official sources (links checked 13 November 2026): eCourts Services portal · eCourts (e-Committee, Supreme Court) · Patna High Court
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