How to Get Court Records and Certified Copies in India — Step-by-Step Guide

To get court records and certified copies in India, apply at the copying section of the court that passed the judgment or order, or use the e-Courts portal (services.ecourts.gov.in) for online access to judgments and orders. Physical certified copies cost ₹5-50 per page and take 3-15 working days. Digital copies through the e-Courts Certified Copy Module or the Supreme Court's e-Copying service are faster, often available within 24-48 hours, and the first soft copy is free at the Supreme Court. You will need an application form, court fee stamps, and your case details.

Who can obtain court records and certified copies

• Parties to the case — Any plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, or their legal representatives have an absolute right to obtain copies of all records in their case
• Advocates on record — Lawyers representing a party can apply for certified copies on behalf of their clients
• Any member of the public — Court judgments and orders are public documents under Section 74 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 72, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023). Any person can obtain a certified copy of a judgment, decree, or order, even if they are not a party to the case
• Government departments — For official purposes (e.g., revenue department requiring a property decree)
• Insurance companies, banks, and financial institutions — For verifying claims or assessing risks related to litigation
• Researchers and journalists — For legitimate research or reporting purposes

Limitations on access:

• Records in in-camera proceedings (family matters, sexual offences, juvenile cases) are restricted — only parties and their advocates can access them
• Courts may restrict access to sealed covers or documents produced under confidentiality orders
• Police case diaries (in criminal cases) are not available to the public — only the accused and prosecution can access them through the court

Documents you will need

Mandatory documents

• Application for certified copy — A written application (or prescribed form, if any) stating the case number, names of parties, the specific document required (judgment, order, decree, deposition, exhibit), and the number of copies needed
• Court fee stamps or e-court fee receipt — As per the applicable fee schedule (typically ₹5-50 per page)
• Identity proof — Aadhaar, PAN, or passport (photocopy) — some courts require this for non-party applicants
• Case details — Case number, year, court, names of parties, date of the judgment or order (the more details you provide, the faster the copy is located)

Additional documents (if applicable)

• Vakalatnama — If an advocate is applying on behalf of a party
• RTI application — If the copying section is unresponsive, you can apply under the Right to Information Act, 2005 for court records (Section 6, with ₹10 application fee)
• Authority letter — If someone other than the party or their advocate is collecting the copy

Step-by-step process

Step 1: Identify the court and locate the record

Before applying, identify:

1. Which court passed the order/judgment — The certified copy must be obtained from the court that has custody of the record. For trial court orders, apply at the District Court or subordinate court. For appellate orders, apply at the High Court or Supreme Court.
2. The exact document you need — Be specific: "Certified copy of judgment dated [date] in [case type and number]" or "Certified copy of order on IA No. [number] dated [date]"
3. Whether the record is digitised — Most courts under the e-Courts project have digitised records from 2015 onwards. Older records may require a manual search of physical registers.

Check online first: Before visiting the court physically, check if the judgment or order is available online:

Tip: Many judgments and orders are now available for free download from court websites. If you only need the text of a judgment for reference (not for filing in another court), downloading from the court website may be sufficient and free. A certified copy is specifically needed when you must file it as evidence or as part of a court proceeding.

Step 2: Apply at the court's copying section (offline method)

If you need a physical certified copy:

1. Visit the copying section (also called the "copy branch" or "copying department") of the relevant court during working hours (typically 10 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday)
2. Fill in the application form — Some courts have a printed form; others accept handwritten applications. Provide:
   • Case number and year
   • Names of parties
   • Nature of document (judgment, order, decree, deposition, exhibit)
   • Date of the document
   • Number of copies required
3. Pay the prescribed fee — Court fee stamps are affixed to the application. The rate is per page:

4. Collect the receipt — The copying section will issue a receipt with an estimated date of delivery
5. Collect the certified copy on the specified date — The copy will bear the court seal and the signature of the authorised officer, making it a certified copy admissible as evidence

Tip: Apply for certified copies on the same day the court pronounces the judgment or order. Courts process applications in the order received, and a backlog can develop quickly after major judgment days.

Step 3: Use the e-Courts Certified Copy Module (online method)

The e-Courts project has introduced a Certified Copy Module allowing litigants to apply online for certified hard copies of judgments and orders.

How to use the e-Courts Certified Copy Module:

1. Visit services.ecourts.gov.in
2. Search for your case using the case number, party name, advocate name, or filing number
3. Locate the order/judgment you need from the case history
4. Check if online certified copy service is available for that court — not all courts have activated this module yet
5. If available, click "Apply for Certified Copy" and follow the prompts
6. Pay the fee online through the integrated payment gateway
7. Receive updates via SMS on the status of your request
8. Collect the hard copy from the court counter, or in some courts, receive it by speed post at your registered address

Availability: The Certified Copy Module is operational in several states and is being rolled out progressively. Check the specific court's listing on the e-Courts portal.

Tip: Even if the Certified Copy Module is not available for your court, you can still use the e-Courts portal to view and download the judgment/order text (uncertified). This is useful for immediate reference while you wait for the formal certified copy.

Step 4: Use the Supreme Court's e-Copying service

For Supreme Court records, a dedicated e-Copying service is available:

1. Visit registry.sci.gov.in and navigate to the e-Copying section
2. Register using your advocate credentials or party-in-person details
3. Search for the record using the case number, diary number, or party names
4. Request a copy — The first soft copy of any admissible record is provided free of cost by the Supreme Court and delivered to your registered email address
5. For hard copies: Select the hard copy option; delivery is available at the counter or by speed post
6. Pay online for hard copies (₹10 per page for ordinary; ₹20 per page for urgent)
7. Processing time: Soft copies are typically delivered within 24-48 hours; hard copies take 3-7 working days

Tip: The Supreme Court's free soft copy service is a significant benefit. For most purposes (reference, research, or even filing in some courts that accept uncertified copies), the free soft copy may be sufficient.

Step 5: Use the Delhi High Court e-True Copy system (Delhi-specific)

The Delhi High Court introduced the e-True Copy Rules, 2024, which provide:

1. No fee is levied for supply of e-True copies of records
2. Parties, advocates on record, and authorised persons can download true copies from the DHC portal
3. These e-True copies are digitally signed and are treated as equivalent to certified copies for most purposes
4. Access: Visit the Delhi High Court website (delhihighcourt.nic.in) and navigate to the e-True Copy section

Tip: This is a pioneering initiative. Other High Courts are expected to follow. Check your respective High Court's website for similar digital copy services.

Step 6: Access court records through the NJDG portal

The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) at njdg.ecourts.gov.in provides:

• Case status information for over 23 crore cases
• Orders and judgments from connected courts
• Drill-down analysis by state, district, court, and case age

How to use NJDG:

1. Visit njdg.ecourts.gov.in
2. Select the court level (District or High Court)
3. Select the state and district
4. Search by case number, CNR number, party name, or advocate name
5. View case details, orders, and download available documents

Limitation: NJDG provides information and digitised copies, but these are not certified copies. For filing purposes in court, you still need a formally certified copy from the copying section.

Step 7: Use RTI as a fallback for unresponsive courts

If the copying section is slow, unresponsive, or refuses your application without valid reason:

1. File an RTI application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005
2. Address it to: The PIO (Public Information Officer) of the court — usually the Registrar or a designated judicial officer
3. Fee: ₹10 (by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, or court fee stamps)
4. Response time: 30 days (statutory), extendable by 15 days in certain cases
5. What you can request: Certified copies of judgments, orders, and other court records that qualify as "information" under the RTI Act

Important: The RTI Act applies to court records with some exceptions — the Supreme Court has held that administrative records of courts fall under RTI, and judgments and orders (being public documents) are accessible. However, records sealed by court order, in-camera proceedings, or case diaries may be exempt.

Tip: Frame your RTI application clearly: "I request a certified copy of the judgment dated [date] in Case No. [number] between [Plaintiff] v. [Defendant], passed by [Court name]." Attach a copy of your ID proof.

Fees and costs

How long does it take

Can you do this online?

Yes, court records are increasingly accessible online through multiple platforms.

Online access summary

Tip: For quick reference, Indian Kanoon (indiankanoon.org) is the largest free database of Indian court judgments. However, copies downloaded from Indian Kanoon are unofficial and cannot be filed in court as evidence. For court filings, you need a certified copy from the court's copying section.

What if things go wrong

Problem: Copying section says the record cannot be found

Solution: Provide as many details as possible — case number, year, names of all parties, date of judgment, name of the judge. If the case is old (before digitisation, typically pre-2015), the record may be in the record room (storage). File a written requisition requesting retrieval from the record room. If the record is genuinely lost or destroyed, apply to the court for reconstruction of the record under the relevant High Court rules.

Problem: Application pending for weeks with no response

Solution: First, visit the copying section in person and inquire about the status. If there is no movement, escalate to the Registrar (Judicial) or the court administrator. As a last resort, file an RTI application — this creates a statutory obligation to respond within 30 days. You can also mention the delay before the presiding judge if you have a pending case.

Problem: Court refuses to provide copies to a non-party

Solution: Judgments and orders are public documents, and any member of the public has a right to obtain certified copies (CPC Section 76). If the copying section refuses, cite this provision and request a written reason for refusal. If the refusal persists, file an RTI application or approach the court's administrative side. Exception: records of in-camera proceedings are restricted.

Problem: Certified copy has errors or missing pages

Solution: Return the copy to the copying section immediately with a written note pointing out the errors or missing pages. Request a correction or re-issue at no additional cost. Courts are responsible for the accuracy of certified copies, and most will re-issue without objection.

Problem: You need the copy urgently for filing an appeal but the copying section is slow

Solution: Apply for urgent copies (paying the higher urgent fee). If urgent copies are still delayed, request the court to grant additional time for filing the certified copy — courts routinely grant such extensions. Under Section 12 of the Limitation Act, 1963, the time spent in obtaining the certified copy is excluded from the limitation period for filing an appeal.

State-specific differences

Frequently asked questions

Is a certified copy the same as an ordinary photocopy?

No. A certified copy is an official reproduction of a court document, bearing the seal of the court and the signature (or digital signature) of an authorised officer (usually the Superintendent of the copying section). It is legally admissible as evidence under Section 77 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (Section 74, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023). An ordinary photocopy has no evidentiary value unless admitted by the court through other means.

Can I download a judgment from the internet and use it in court?

Judgments downloaded from court websites or legal databases (Indian Kanoon, SCC Online, Manupatra) can be used for reference during arguments. However, if you need to file a judgment as evidence or as a document in a case (e.g., a certified copy of the decree for filing an appeal or execution petition), you must obtain a certified copy from the court. Some courts may accept printouts from the official court website if accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, but the standard practice is to file certified copies.

How do I get a certified copy of a very old judgment (before 2010)?

For pre-digitisation records, apply at the court's copying section with as many details as possible. The record may be stored in the record room (physical storage). The copying section will requisition the file from the record room, which may take additional time (7-30 days). If the record has been destroyed pursuant to the court's destruction schedule (courts destroy certain categories of records after prescribed periods — typically 5-30 years depending on the case type), reconstruction may be necessary.

What is the difference between a "certified copy" and a "true copy"?

A certified copy is prepared and certified by the court's copying section as a true reproduction of the original record. A "true copy" (especially an e-True copy as introduced by the Delhi High Court) is a digitally signed reproduction that has the same legal validity. In practice, both serve the same purpose — proving the contents of a court record. The e-True Copy system is newer and may not be recognised in all jurisdictions yet.

Can I get certified copies of documents filed by the other party?

Yes. In a pending case, both parties have access to all documents on the court record, including documents filed by the opposing party (plaint, written statement, affidavits, exhibits). Apply at the copying section specifying the document you need. In criminal cases, the accused has a right to copies of all prosecution documents under BNSS Section 230 (corresponding to the earlier CrPC Section 207).

How do I get a certified copy of a FIR or police chargesheet?

FIRs are available online in many states through the respective state police websites or the CCTNS portal. For a certified copy, apply to the concerned police station (for the FIR) or the court where the chargesheet is filed (for the chargesheet and accompanying documents). Under BNSS Section 230, the accused is entitled to copies of all documents relied upon by the prosecution, including the chargesheet, at the time of supply of copies to the Magistrate.