Diary number vs case number in the Supreme Court
Why a filing gets a diary number first, when it gets a regular case number, and which one to use when you look a matter up.
By LawyerInsight team · Published 2026-10-27 · 2 min read
When a matter is filed in the Supreme Court it is given a diary number. This is a filing identifier. The matter receives a regular case number (for example a Special Leave Petition number) later, once the Registry has checked the filing and any defects have been cured.
Why it matters when you search
- Right after filing, only the diary number exists, so that is the only way to look the matter up.
- After registration, the regular case number is the one used in orders and lists. The diary number usually still finds the matter.
- Do not assume a refiled matter keeps its old diary number. Refiling after curing defects has produced new diary numbers in some reported cases, so keep a note of every number a matter has had.
Matters that are never registered
A matter can be diarised but never registered if its defects are not cured. In 2022 the Registrar declined to register more than 13,000 old diary items with uncured defects, as reported by Bar & Bench. For those, the diary number is the only record.
Which to use
| You have | Use |
|---|---|
| A freshly filed matter | Diary number and year |
| A registered matter | Regular case number, type and year (the diary number also works) |
| An older order that shows both | Note both in your file |
LawyerInsight accepts either number when you add a case to track.
Sources
LawyerInsight is a research aid, not legal advice. Check any citation before relying on it.
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