CJI: AI Must Aid, Not Adjudicate Justice

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant recently advocated for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the judicial system, emphasizing its role as an assistive technology. Speaking at a seminar in Karnataka, he stated that AI should be utilized to manage large datasets, detect patterns, and expedite procedural processes, thereby enhancing efficiency.

However, the CJI cautioned against AI encroaching upon the fundamental judicial responsibility of delivering judgments. He stressed that allowing AI to dominate decision-making could jeopardize transparency and accountability within the justice delivery framework, asserting that the final pronouncement of verdicts must remain the prerogative of human judges, relying on their reasoning and experience.

Further elaborating on technology's role, Justice Kant described AI as a pathway, with human intellect invariably charting the direction. Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru echoed concerns about AI's evolving role, questioning its potential to substitute human judgment. He acknowledged AI's capacity for predictive analysis and efficiency gains, alongside opportunities for faster, cost-effective dispute resolution through online platforms, provided judicial independence and transparency are safeguarded.

Prashant Kumar, President of the Bar Association of India, highlighted AI's practical benefits, such as the rapid translation of court judgments into local languages, thereby improving accessibility for rural populations and facilitating client-lawyer communication.