eCourts e-Filing 2.0: How to File a Case Online in District Courts and High Courts (2026)
A step-by-step guide to filing a case online on the eCourts e-Filing 2.0 portal in District Courts and High Courts, with what you need ready and why filings get returned.
How-To · Online Filing
Filing a case in person means travel, queues and a risk that the registry returns your papers for a small defect. The eCourts e-Filing 2.0 portal lets advocates and litigants file in District Courts and High Courts online. This guide explains who can use it, the exact steps, what to keep ready, and the common reasons filings are returned.
- What it is: the eCourts e-Filing 2.0 portal files civil and criminal cases online in District Courts and High Courts.
- The flow: register, create the case, add parties and advocates, upload PDFs, sign, pay through ePay, submit for scrutiny.
- You need: a login, a DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign, clear PDFs and online payment.
- Most common failure: a wrong case type, unclear PDFs or a missing vakalatnama.
- After filing: track hearings and orders. Claw tracks matters across 9,102 forums.
01The short answer
To e-file a case on eCourts e-Filing 2.0, register as an advocate or party in person, create the case, add parties and advocates, upload your cause papers as PDFs, sign them, pay court fees online through ePay, and submit for scrutiny. Once the registry accepts it, you get a case number and then need to track hearings and orders.
E-filing ends when the registry accepts your case. Your real work, tracking hearings and orders, starts the same day.
The portal works for civil and criminal cases in High Courts and District Courts. It is a different system from the Supreme Court’s own e-filing. For the Supreme Court route, and for the basics of the idea, see what e-filing in Indian courts means.
02Why online filing trips people up
Online filing removes the trip to the court, but it does not remove the rules. Most delays come from small mistakes, not from the portal itself.
Every court has its own practice
The portal is common, but each High Court and each District Court sets its own e-filing rules. Case type lists, file size limits and required annexures can differ. A filing that works in one court may be returned in another.
One defect means a return
A blurred scan, a missing vakalatnama or a wrongly named document can send the filing back for correction. Each return costs days, and in time sensitive matters that can matter a lot.
Signing and payment are separate steps
Your papers must be signed correctly and the fee must be paid through the right channel. People often finish the upload and then get stuck at signing or payment, because these need a token, an OTP or a bank page that works at that moment.
Always check local rules
Treat this guide as the general process. Before you file, read the e-filing rules or notice of the specific High Court or District Court. Rules and case type lists change.
03Who can use e-Filing 2.0
The portal is open to more than just advocates. Registration is available for several types of users.
- Advocates: register with your Bar registration details. This is the most common route.
- Litigants (party in person): an individual or a group can register and file without an advocate.
- Clerks: an advocate’s clerk can register to help with filing.
- Government pleaders, court nominated officials and institutional litigants: the portal also supports these user types.
Chambers that handle a large volume of matters often use a clerk login so that a senior advocate does not have to do every upload. If you run a busy chamber, see how senior advocates’ chambers keep track of matters after filing. Commercial and IP litigants, for example in anti-counterfeiting work, also file through the same courts; see brand protection and anti-counterfeiting in India.
04What you need before you start
Get these ready first. Most failed attempts come from missing one of them.
- A registered login: your account on the portal, with a working mobile number and email for OTPs.
- A way to sign: a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) on a token, or Aadhaar based e-Sign. The portal offers e-Sign for people who do not hold a DSC token. Check which one your court accepts.
- PDF documents: the petition or plaint, annexures and vakalatnama, all as clear PDF files. Keep each file within the size limit set by the court.
- Online payment: court fees are paid online through the eCourts ePay portal, which replaces stamps, cheques and cash. Have a net banking, card or UPI option ready.
- Case details: party names and addresses, the relief sought, the act and sections, and the facts for the cause of action.
Scan at a readable resolution and keep documents in the order the court expects. Name each file clearly so the registry can match it to the index.
05Step by step: how to e-file a case
These are the main steps on the eCourts e-Filing 2.0 portal. Screens and labels may look slightly different by court, but the order is the same.
Step 1. Register on the portal
Go to the eCourts e-Filing portal and choose to register. Pick your user type: advocate, litigant or clerk. Advocates enter state, Bar registration number, name and gender, plus a mobile number and email. Verify with the OTP and set a password.
Step 2. Log in and select the court
Log in with your credentials. Select whether you are filing in a High Court or a District Court, then pick the exact court, such as the state, district and establishment.
Step 3. Create a new case
Choose the option to file a new case. Select the correct case type from the list. Enter the case details, including the subject, the act and the section. Getting the case type right matters, because a wrong type is a common reason for a return.
Step 4. Add parties and advocates
Add each petitioner and respondent with names, addresses and contact details. Add the advocates for each party. If you are an advocate, complete the vakalatnama step so your appearance for the client is recorded.
Step 5. Upload the PDF cause papers
Upload the main petition or plaint, then the annexures and supporting documents, all as PDFs. Fill in the index details if asked. Check each file opens correctly after upload.
Step 6. Sign the filing
Sign using your DSC token or Aadhaar based e-Sign. The portal also lets several parties sign from different places, and it can record the oath online by video after the documents are e-signed and verified, where the court has enabled it.
Step 7. Pay court fees through ePay
Use the online fee payment option, which takes you to the ePay system. Pay the court fee and save the receipt. The payment details attach to your filing.
Step 8. Submit for scrutiny
Submit the case. The registry scrutinises it. If everything is in order, it is accepted and a case number is generated. If there are defects, you get a notice to cure them and re-submit.
06Common scrutiny and rejection reasons
Most returned filings fail for avoidable reasons. Check this list before you click submit.
| Reason for return | What to check |
|---|---|
| Wrong case type | Match the case type to the relief and the court. Read the court’s case type list. |
| Unclear or incomplete PDFs | Check every page is readable, upright and in the right order. Confirm all annexures are uploaded. |
| Missing vakalatnama or authority | Upload a signed vakalatnama, and complete the advocate appearance step. |
| Signature problems | Sign every required document. Check your DSC is valid and not expired, or complete the e-Sign fully. |
| Court fee issues | Confirm the fee is correct for the relief and that the ePay payment is complete with a receipt. |
| Party details incorrect | Check names, addresses and capacity of each party. Mistakes here cause problems at service. |
| File size or format | Keep within the size limit and use PDF only. Compress large scans. |
| Missing limitation or urgency details | If the matter is time barred or urgent, state why clearly in the filing. |
If your filing is returned, read the defect note carefully, fix every point in one go, and re-submit. Fixing only one item and re-submitting often leads to a second return.
07After you file: tracking is the next job
Once the case is registered, the portal has done its job. Now you must know the next hearing date, whether the matter is listed, and what the court ordered. Missing a listing can lead to an adverse order.
Most advocates check this by searching the eCourts case status page. That works for one case at a time. Our guide on how to check case status on eCourts covers that method. When you have many matters, reminders help; see the best hearing reminder apps in India.
08Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Claw does not file cases for you. It is not a replacement for the e-Filing portal. Where it helps is the stage after filing. Once your case is registered, Claw can track it across courts, send hearing alerts by WhatsApp and email, and read a court order to set reminders. Claw tracks matters across 9,102 forums, and its case search covers over 30 crore judgements with results in under 5 seconds.
Once filed, create a free Claw account to track the case, hearings and orders by party name across courts. Claw has a free plan for individual advocates. Teams and enterprises are on paid plans. Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models.
09Sources and further reading
Official sources for the process described here:
- eCourts e-Filing portal: efiling.ecourts.gov.in
- eFiling Services portal: filing.ecourts.gov.in
- eCourts ePay (court fees): pay.ecourts.gov.in
- eCourts Services: ecourts.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
Last verified October 2026. Court rules change, so always confirm with the specific court’s e-filing notice before you file.
10Frequently asked questions
What is eCourts e-Filing 2.0?
It is the online system that lets advocates and litigants file civil and criminal cases in High Courts and District Courts without visiting the court. You register, upload PDF papers, sign, pay court fees online and submit for scrutiny. It is separate from the Supreme Court’s own e-filing system.
How do I e-file a case in a District Court?
Register on the portal, log in, select the District Court, create a new case with the right case type, add parties and advocates, upload PDFs, sign, pay the fee through ePay and submit. The registry then scrutinises the filing and issues a case number if it is in order.
Can a litigant file without an advocate?
Yes, the portal allows a litigant to register as a party in person and file. The same steps apply. You must still upload correct documents, sign them and pay the court fee. Check your court’s rules for any extra requirements.
Do I need a Digital Signature Certificate?
Not always. The portal supports both DSC and Aadhaar based e-Sign, and e-Sign is offered for those who do not hold a DSC token. However, the rule can differ by court, so confirm what your High Court or District Court accepts.
How do I pay court fees when e-filing?
You pay online through the eCourts ePay system, which has replaced physical stamps, cheques and cash. Pay the fee during the filing, and keep the receipt in case the registry asks for it.
What happens after I e-file a case?
The registry scrutinises it. If there are defects you must cure them and re-submit. Once accepted, you get a case number, and then you track hearings and orders. Claw can track the case by party name across courts, and has a free plan for individual advocates.