eCourts Case Number - List Case Types

Endpoint Overview

GET /api/v1/ecourts/case-number/list-case-types

Description

The eCourts Case Number - List Case Types API retrieves a comprehensive list of all case types available within a specified court complex, district, and state in the eCourts ecosystem. This endpoint represents the fourth and pivotal step in the hierarchical jurisdiction lookup workflow: State → District → Court Complex → Case Type → Case Search.

After identifying the target state, district, and court complex through the preceding lookup APIs, developers must use this endpoint to obtain the specific case type codes and descriptions relevant to the selected court complex. Indian courts handle a vast spectrum of case categories — from criminal appeals (CA), civil suits (CS), motor accident claims (MACT), matrimonial matters (HMA), rent control disputes (RC ARC), to specialized proceedings like traffic challans (TC), trade mark disputes (TM), and labour tribunal references (L I R). Each court complex supports a distinct subset of case types based on its jurisdictional authority.

This API ensures that your application presents only the valid and applicable case types for the selected court, eliminating user errors and streamlining the case search experience.

Key Benefits

Precise Case Classification: Returns the exact case type codes and their full descriptions as recognized by the selected court complex, ensuring accurate case identification.

Dynamic & Context-Aware: Results are tailored to the specific state, district, and court complex combination, reflecting the actual jurisdictional capabilities of that court.

Wide Spectrum Coverage: Supports all case categories — civil, criminal, matrimonial, labour, execution, special acts, and more — providing a single source of truth for case type enumeration.

Seamless Workflow Integration: Directly feeds into the final case-number search API, completing the lookup chain required for accurate case retrieval.

Use Cases

Legal Technology

Banking & Financial Services

Insurance & Real Estate

Case Management Systems: Populate dynamic case type dropdowns in legal case management platforms, enabling lawyers and paralegals to quickly classify and search for cases within the correct court and jurisdiction.

Legal Research Platforms: Allow legal researchers to filter and browse case types available at specific courts, facilitating targeted analysis of judicial trends across different case categories.

Litigation Tracking Dashboards: Build intelligent dashboards that display case type distributions across court complexes, helping law firms manage their portfolio by case category.

Technical Implementation

Authentication

All API requests require authentication using a JWT Bearer token. Authentication follows these steps:

Obtain API Credentials: Register with Surepass to receive your API key.

Generate JWT Token: Use your API key to generate a JWT token.

Include in Requests: Add the token to the Authorization header as Bearer TOKEN.

Different authentication tokens are used for sandbox and production environments:

Sandbox: https://sandbox.surepass.app

Production: https://kyc-api.surepass.app

Request Parameters

Request Headers

Header	Required	Description
`Authorization`	Yes	JWT Bearer token for authentication. Format: `Bearer <your_jwt_token>`
`Content-Type`	Yes	Must be set to `application/json`

Request Body

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`state_name`	String	Yes	The name of the state or union territory in snake_case format as returned by the List States API. Example: `"delhi"`, `"andhra_pradesh"`.
`district_name`	String	Yes	The name of the district as returned by the List Districts API. Example: `"Shahdara"`, `"Central"`.
`court_complex_name`	String	Yes	The full name of the court complex as returned by the List Court Complex API. Example: `"Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Shahdara, KKD"`.

Example Request

{
  "state_name": "delhi",
  "district_name": "Shahdara",
  "court_complex_name": "Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Shahdara, KKD"
}

Process Response

Response Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
`data`	Array of Strings	A list of all case types available at the specified court complex. Each entry contains a case type code and its full description (e.g., `"CA - CRIMINAL APPEAL"`). Some entries may contain only a descriptive name without a code prefix.
`status_code`	Integer	HTTP status code of the response. `200` indicates success.
`message_code`	String	A machine-readable code representing the result status. `"success"` indicates a successful operation.
`message`	String	A human-readable message describing the result. `"Success"` for successful operations.
`success`	Boolean	Indicates whether the API call was successful. `true` for success, `false` for failure.

Example Successful Response

{
  "data": [
    "ARBTN - ARBRITRATION CASES",
    "ARBTN CASES",
    "Bail Matters",
    "CA - CRIMINAL APPEAL",
    "CBI",
    "CC - CORRUPTION CASES",
    "CC NI ACT - Complaint Case 138 NI Act",
    "Civ Suit - CIVIL SUIT FOR CIVIL JUDGE",
    "CLOR - Closure Report",
    "CR - COPY RIGHT",
    "CR Cases - CRIMINAL CASE",
    "Cr Rev - CRIMINAL REVISION",
    "CS - CIVIL SUIT FOR DJ ADJ",
    "CT Cases - COMPLAINT CASES",
    "DPT EQ - DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRY",
    "DPT EQ CR - DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRY CRL",
    "E P - ELECTION PETITION",
    "ESIC - Employee State Insurance Corp.",
    "EX - EXECUTION",
    "EX CRL - EXECUTION CRIMINAL",
    "GP - Guardian Ship",
    "HINDU ADP - HINDU ADOPTATION MAINT. ACT",
    "HMA - HINDU MARRIAGE ACT",
    "HTA - HOUSE TAX APPEAL",
    "IDA - DEVORCE ACT",
    "LAC - LAND ACQ. ACT",
    "LC - LABOUR COURT",
    "LCA - Labour Court Application",
    "L I D - LABOUR INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE",
    "L I R - LABOUR/IND. TRIB REF. MATTER",
    "MACT - M.A.C.T.",
    "MACT CR - MACT CRIMINAL",
    "MC - MAHILA COURT",
    "MCA DJ - MISC. CIVIL APPEAL FOR DJ ADJ",
    "MCA SCJ - MISC. CIVIL APPEAL FOR CJ",
    "MCD APPL - MCD APPEAL",
    "MISC CRL - MISC. CASES",
    "MISC DJ - MISC. CASES FOR DJ ADJ",
    "MISC RC ARC - MISC. CASE FOR RC/ARC",
    "MISC SCJ - MISC. CASES FOR CJ",
    "MUSLIM LAW - MUSLIM LAW DELHI WAKF BOARD",
    "OP - Approval",
    "PC - PROBATE/LETTER OF ADMIN",
    "POIT - INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL",
    "PPA - PUBLIC PREMISES ACT",
    "RCA DJ - REG CIVIL APPEAL FOR DJ ADJ",
    "RC ARC - RENT CONTROLlER/ADDL. R.C.",
    "RCA SCJ - CIVIL APPEAL FOR CJ",
    "RCT ARCT - RENT CONT. TRIB. - ADDL. R.C.T",
    "REC CASES - RECEIVERSHIP CASES",
    "REVOCATION",
    "SC - SESSIONS CASE",
    "S C COURT - SMALL CAUSE COURT",
    "S.M.A - SPL MARRIAGE ACT",
    "SMA - SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT",
    "SUCCESSION COURT",
    "TC - TRAFFIC CHALLAN",
    "TM - TRADE MARKS",
    "T. P. Civil - Transfer Petition Civil",
    "T. P. Crl. - Transfer Petition Criminal"
  ],
  "status_code": 200,
  "message_code": "success",
  "message": "Success",
  "success": true
}

Possible Error Responses

Authentication Error (401)

Invalid State Name (400)

Invalid District Name (400)

Invalid Court Complex Name (400)

Internal Server Error (500)

{
    "data": null,
    "error": null,
    "message": "Your token is invalid. Please ensure that correct token is being used.",
    "status_code": 401,
    "success": false,
    "message_code": "invalid_token"
}

This error occurs when the Authorization header is missing, the JWT token is invalid, malformed, or has expired. Generate a new JWT token and retry the request.

Integration Best Practices

Security Recommendations

Secure Token Storage: Store JWT tokens in secure, encrypted storage (e.g., environment variables, secret managers like AWS Secrets Manager or HashiCorp Vault). Never hardcode tokens in source code or expose them in client-side applications.

Token Rotation: Implement automatic JWT token refresh mechanisms to avoid service disruptions caused by expired tokens. Monitor token expiry and regenerate proactively.

Server-Side Calls Only: Always invoke this API from your backend server. Never expose your JWT token or make API calls directly from frontend/client-side code to prevent token leakage.

Environment Isolation: Use separate JWT tokens and base URLs for sandbox and production environments. Never use sandbox tokens in production or vice versa.

User Experience Guidelines

Cascading Selection Flow: Implement a sequential, cascading dropdown interface (State → District → Court Complex → Case Type) where each subsequent dropdown is populated only after the previous selection is made, ensuring valid combinations at every step.

Cache Responses Strategically: Case type lists for a given court complex change infrequently. Cache responses with an appropriate TTL (e.g., 24 hours) to minimize API calls and improve UI responsiveness. Provide a manual refresh option for users.

Display Friendly Labels: Present the full case type descriptions (e.g., "CRIMINAL APPEAL") as the primary display text in dropdowns, and use the code prefix (e.g., "CA") as a secondary identifier or search shortcut for experienced legal users.

Search & Filter Support: Given the large number of case types a court complex may support (60+ in some cases), implement a searchable/filterable dropdown so users can quickly locate the relevant case type by typing a keyword or code.

Loading States & Error Handling: Display clear loading indicators while fetching case types. If an error occurs, show a user-friendly message with a retry option rather than raw error codes.

Code Samples

cURL

Python

Node.js

Related APIs

eCourts Case Number - List States (GET /api/v1/ecourts/case-number/list-state): Retrieves the list of all Indian states and union territories. This is the first step in the jurisdiction lookup chain and provides valid state_name values for this API.

eCourts Case Number - List Districts (GET /api/v1/ecourts/case-number/list-districts): Retrieves the list of districts within a specified state. This is the second step and provides valid district_name values for this API.

eCourts Case Number - List Court Complex (GET /api/v1/ecourts/case-number/list-court-complex): Retrieves the list of court complexes within a specified state and district. This is the third step and provides valid court_complex_name values for this API.

eCourts Case Number - Search (POST /api/v1/ecourts/case-number/search): The final step in the workflow. Uses the state, district, court complex, and case type obtained from the lookup APIs to search for specific court cases by case number.

Compliance and Legal Considerations

Data Source: All case type information is sourced from the official eCourts platform maintained by the Government of India's National Informatics Centre (NIC). The data reflects the current configuration of the Indian judicial system.

Public Information: Case type classifications are publicly available metadata and do not constitute personal or sensitive data. However, the subsequent case search results may contain personal information of litigants and should be handled in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

Fair Usage: Adhere to Surepass's fair usage policies and rate limits. Avoid excessive or automated bulk querying that could impact service availability.

No Legal Advice: The case type codes and descriptions returned by this API are for informational and integration purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice or official court classification guidance. Always consult qualified legal professionals for case classification decisions.

Data Protection Compliance: If your application stores or processes the results of subsequent case searches (which may contain PII), ensure compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA), and any other applicable privacy regulations.

Provide your bearer token in the

Authorization

header when making requests to protected resources.

Example:

Authorization: Bearer ********************

curl --location --request GET 'https://kyc-api.surepass.app/api/v1/ecourts/case-number/list-case-types' \ --header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \ --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \ --data-raw '{ "state_name": "delhi", "district_name": "Shahdara", "court_complex_name": "Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Shahdara, KKD" }'

{ "data": [ "ARBTN - ARBRITRATION CASES", "ARBTN CASES", "Bail Matters", "CA - CRIMINAL APPEAL", "CBI", "CC - CORRUPTION CASES", "CC NI ACT - Complaint Case 138 NI Act", "Civ Suit - CIVIL SUIT FOR CIVIL JUDGE", "CLOR - Closure Report", "CR - COPY RIGHT", "CR Cases - CRIMINAL CASE", "Cr Rev - CRIMINAL REVISION", "CS - CIVIL SUIT FOR DJ ADJ", "CT Cases - COMPLAINT CASES", "DPT EQ - DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRY", "DPT EQ CR - DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRY CRL", "E P - ELECTION PETITION", "ESIC - Employee State Insurance Corp.", "EX - EXECUTION", "EX CRL - EXECUTION CRIMINAL", "GP - Guardian Ship", "HINDU ADP - HINDU ADOPTATION MAINT. ACT", "HMA - HINDU MARRIAGE ACT", "HTA - HOUSE TAX APPEAL", "IDA - DEVORCE ACT", "LAC - LAND ACQ. ACT", "LC - LABOUR COURT", "LCA - Labour Court Application", "L I D - LABOUR INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE", "L I R - LABOUR/IND. TRIB REF. MATTER", "MACT - M.A.C.T.", "MACT CR - MACT CRIMINAL", "MC - MAHILA COURT", "MCA DJ - MISC. CIVIL APPEAL FOR DJ ADJ", "MCA SCJ - MISC. CIVIL APPEAL FOR CJ", "MCD APPL - MCD APPEAL", "MISC CRL - MISC. CASES", "MISC DJ - MISC. CASES FOR DJ ADJ", "MISC RC ARC - MISC. CASE FOR RC/ARC", "MISC SCJ - MISC. CASES FOR CJ", "MUSLIM LAW - MUSLIM LAW DELHI WAKF BOARD", "OP - Approval", "PC - PROBATE/LETTER OF ADMIN", "POIT - INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL", "PPA - PUBLIC PREMISES ACT", "RCA DJ - REG CIVIL APPEAL FOR DJ ADJ", "RC ARC - RENT CONTROLlER/ADDL. R.C.", "RCA SCJ - CIVIL APPEAL FOR CJ", "RCT ARCT - RENT CONT. TRIB. - ADDL. R.C.T", "REC CASES - RECEIVERSHIP CASES", "REVOCATION", "SC - SESSIONS CASE", "S C COURT - SMALL CAUSE COURT", "S.M.A - SPL MARRIAGE ACT", "SMA - SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT", "SUCCESSION COURT", "TC - TRAFFIC CHALLAN", "TM - TRADE MARKS", "T. P. Civil - Transfer Petition Civil", "T. P. Crl. - Transfer Petition Criminal" ], "status_code": 200, "message_code": "success", "message": "Success", "success": true }

Get Case Type List

eCourts Case Number - List Case Types#

Description#

Use Cases#

Technical Implementation#

Request Headers#

Request Body#

Example Request#

Response Parameters#

Example Successful Response#

Possible Error Responses#

Integration Best Practices#

Code Samples#

Request

Responses