AI MAY SEARCH THE LAW, BUT THE FINAL VERDICT MUST REMAIN HUMAN
October 3, 2026
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant says artificial intelligence can strengthen judicial research and digital court processes, but constitutional decision-making cannot be handed over to machines.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said artificial intelligence can become an important tool for modernising the judicial system, but it cannot replace judges or assume responsibility for judicial decisions.
Speaking at an international conference on the digitisation of justice in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the CJI said technology could assist judges and court staff with research and the management of large volumes of information. However, the authority to interpret law and deliver judgments must remain with human judges.
The remarks come as Indian courts increasingly adopt digital systems, including electronic filing, virtual hearings and digital case-management platforms. Such technologies have the potential to reduce procedural delays, lower costs and make access to courts easier for citizens.
The CJI emphasised that technological transformation must remain connected to the constitutional principles that govern the justice system. Rights relating to life and liberty, equality before law and access to constitutional remedies must remain central to any process of judicial modernisation.
The Supreme Court's draft framework for the use of AI in courts similarly places human oversight at the centre of AI-assisted judicial work. Under the proposed approach, artificial intelligence may support research and court processes, but its outputs cannot substitute for independent judicial evaluation.
The debate reflects a wider question confronting legal systems around the world: how far artificial intelligence should be integrated into judicial institutions without allowing technology to displace human responsibility.
For India's courts, the emerging model therefore places AI in an assistive role—helping judges process information and improve efficiency while leaving interpretation, reasoning and final decisions firmly in human hands.
