This paper explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the Indian judicial system, evaluating both its transformative potential and the complex legal and ethical implications it entails. As AI technologies are increasingly used to support judicial functions worldwide, India has initiated pilot projects—such as SUPACE and SUVAAS—to address persistent challenges including judicial backlog, procedural delays, and access barriers, particularly in rural regions. The study first examines the global rise of AI in the legal field, situating India’s efforts within a comparative international context. It then analyzes the key structural limitations of the Indian judiciary—such as judge-to-population disparity and infrastructural inadequacies—that have prompted interest in AI-based solutions. In assessing AI’s benefits, the paper highlights improvements in procedural speed, standardization of decisions, enhanced judicial support, and expanded legal accessibility through digital tools. However, the paper also critically engages with the risks associated with judicial AI, including the opacity of algorithmic reasoning (“black box” concerns), the entrenchment of historical biases, uncertainties around legal accountability, and the potential erosion of human judicial discretion. These challenges necessitate robust policy responses. To that end, the final section offers forward-looking recommendations, calling for the establishment of a regulatory framework for AI in justice, AI literacy programs for legal professionals, the nationwide expansion of successful pilot projects, and inclusive public participation in AI governance. The paper concludes that while AI can serve as a valuable aid to India’s overburdened legal system, its adoption must be guided by constitutional values, ethical design, and inclusive oversight to ensure it promotes—not undermines—access to justice.
Pankaj Mishra (Tue,) studied this question.