Recently, the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, has credited young lawyers, judicial officers, and legal professionals for accelerating the Indian judiciary’s transition towards technology-driven justice delivery. Speaking at the Oxford Union, he said the legal fraternity’s younger generation has been instrumental in helping courts adopt digital systems and AI-backed reforms, a development he described as crucial to expanding access to justice across the country.
Addressing a gathering on the future of justice in the age of artificial intelligence, the Chief Justice highlighted the judiciary’s ongoing efforts to modernise court administration through homegrown AI solutions. He explained that these technologies are being explored to improve processes such as case filing, listing, allocation, and data analysis while supporting existing initiatives like virtual hearings, live-streaming, the National Judicial Data Grid, and the e-Courts project. He noted that the rapid acceptance of these reforms has been possible because younger members of the legal profession have readily adapted to technological change.
CJI Surya Kant stressed that while artificial intelligence can significantly enhance efficiency, it cannot assume the role of a judge. Emphasising the limits of technology in the justice system, he observed, “It remains entirely blind to the qualities that animate the soul of the law - empathy, ethical discernment and deep contextual understanding.” He further revealed that the Supreme Court is developing a regulatory framework for AI use in courts, founded on principles such as human oversight, transparency, accountability, fairness, periodic audits, and data protection. The Chief Justice reiterated that technology must remain a constitutional aid rather than a replacement for human-centred adjudication.
Source PTI
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