Supreme Court Moves To Regulate AI In Judiciary, Says Technology Cannot Replace Judges
India's judicial system is preparing for a new phase of technological integration after the Supreme Court unveiled a comprehensive draft framework governing the use of Artificial Intelligence across courts and tribunals.
The proposed regulations seek to establish clear boundaries for the deployment of AI in judicial institutions while ensuring that technology remains a support mechanism rather than a decision-maker. Under the draft framework, all final legal determinations, including judgments, orders, findings and sentences, must continue to be made exclusively by human judges.
The initiative comes as AI-powered tools are increasingly finding applications in legal research, document analysis and court administration. Judicial authorities have also expressed concerns over the growing dependence on generative AI platforms that have occasionally produced inaccurate legal references, fabricated case citations and misleading information.
According to the proposed framework, courts may use AI systems for a range of non-adjudicatory functions. These include case scheduling, management of filings, preparation of cause lists, document summarisation, legal research assistance, transcription services, citation checks and translation of court documents into regional languages.
However, the draft draws a strict distinction between administrative support and judicial reasoning. AI systems will not be permitted to determine legal outcomes, evaluate evidence, assess witness credibility or influence findings on questions of fact and law. Every judicial decision must remain under direct human supervision and control.
The framework is built around the principle that technology should enhance efficiency without compromising judicial independence. To reinforce this objective, the draft proposes a mandatory human oversight mechanism for every AI-assisted process used within the justice delivery system.
The Supreme Court's Artificial Intelligence Committee has invited feedback from legal professionals, academic institutions, technology experts and members of the public before finalising the regulations. Suggestions and comments can be submitted until June 20.
The proposal also addresses privacy and data security concerns. It restricts the use of personal information for training or improving AI systems unless such activities comply with applicable legal requirements and receive appropriate approvals.
To supervise future implementation, the draft recommends a structured oversight mechanism. The plan includes a central regulatory body led by a judge of the Supreme Court, dedicated AI committees in High Courts across the country and a specialised research institution focused on judicial applications of artificial intelligence.
Additionally, all AI tools deployed within the judicial ecosystem would be required to undergo regular performance evaluations, compliance reviews and annual audits to ensure reliability and accountability.
The judiciary believes that carefully regulated use of AI could help improve court efficiency, reduce procedural delays and support case management. At the same time, the proposed framework sends a clear message that technological advancements will complement, not replace, the role of judges in delivering justice.
