Politics · India Bureau
AI can support judges but never replace judicial conscience: CJI Kant
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has outlined the judiciary's framework for artificial intelligence adoption, emphasizing that while AI can augment judicial reasoning, it cannot substitute the human element of judicial conscience. He also announced plans for a permanent apex body to oversee the technology's implementation and accountability.
LSN India ·
The Chief Justice of India articulated the judiciary's governing principle on artificial intelligence on Wednesday during a bilateral meeting with Ulrich Herrmann, presiding judge of the Federal Court of Justice at Karlsruhe in Germany. CJI Kant stressed that AI deployment in Indian courts remains confined to specific support functions and does not influence judicial outcomes.
The technology is currently being leveraged for legal research, automated translation of judgements into 16 Indian languages, and as a citizen interface platform for accessing case status and procedural information. These applications are designed primarily to reduce administrative burden and repetitive work rather than to make judicial determinations.
"Artificial intelligence may augment judicial reasoning, but it cannot substitute judicial conscience," CJI Kant said, underlining the irreplaceable role of human judgment in the delivery of justice. The Supreme Court's AI Committee has drafted regulations permitting administrative applications of the technology while maintaining safeguards against its misuse.
To ensure responsible adoption and accountability, the Chief Justice disclosed that the judiciary has proposed establishing a permanent apex body dedicated to supervising artificial intelligence integration across courts. This institutional mechanism is expected to provide oversight as the Indian judiciary gradually expands its use of AI tools while preserving the sanctity of judicial decision-making.