The Judiciary as an institution rests upon the values of equality, precedent, and the law, and has guarded the administration of justice for centuries.

Courts has been an arena where disputes are resolved, rights are protected, and societal order is maintained. Yet, despite its noble mission, the judiciary has often been criticized for its inefficiencies, lengthy processes, and human fallibility. This is where Artificial intelligence (AI) comes to aid, not as a replacement, but as a transformative ally. AI represents sophisticated computer systems with advanced digital brain structures capable of mimicking human intelligence. To improve efficiency and openness, AI is being quickly adopted by the Indian judiciary. This technological advancement holds the potential to completely transform India's legal system and increase accessibility and speed of justice. AI is prepared to assist in clearing the backlog and procedural inefficiencies that loom as the judiciary moves into the digital era.

• The Context of Judicial Postponements - As of 2024, approximately 50 million lawsuits are outstanding in the Indian courts, with the Supreme Court alone handling approximately 84,000 of these petitions. The recent National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) shows that 45,676,080 cases are pending at the District and Taluka levels and 6,017,239 are still unresolved at the High Courts. These startling figures beg for innovative ways to improve judicial productivity and expedite case administration.
• AI's Place in Case Management - In 2023, the Chief Justice of India unveiled his AI-assisted project, which involved real-time transcription of Constitution Bench proceedings. AI-powered tools like SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court's Efficiency) have been introduced to assist judges by automating repetitive tasks such as legal research, data extraction, and case summarization. SUPACE helps courts cut through the clutter and sort through massive amounts of legal material using natural language processing (NLP) to provide information that is relevant and understandable. SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software) is an AI translation service that specializes in bridging language gaps. It was especially advantageous during the COVID-19 pandemic, when online dispute resolution platforms and virtual hearings were implemented to keep the judicial operations going.
• Predictive Justice with AI - Among the most promising uses of AI is predictive justice. By examining historical case data, these algorithms project case outcomes, aiding judges in their decision-making. Predictive capacity speeds up the case resolution while ensuring consistency and fairness in judgements. To increase the accuracy of its decisions, the Supreme Court has begun experimenting with AI technologies proactively. “Premonition” is a legaltech software that claims to be able to predict a lawyer's odds of winning, the duration of their case, and the judge to whom a particular case would be assigned. Comparably, another software called "LexMachina" gives users access to a judge's prior decisions, giving them a better idea of how likely it is that their case would succeed.
• Revolutionizing Legal Research - Legal research often feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. Machine learning (ML) methods are used by AI-driven systems of online legal databases such as Manupatra and CaseMine to provide accurate search results and pertinent case references quickly. These resources facilitate the speedy discovery of necessary legal documents for judges and attorneys. CaseMine's GPT-powered solution, AMICUS, has introduced a legal chatbot that simplifies tasks such as legal research, document drafting, and summary generation. Legal professionals benefit from this innovation as it expedites workflows, enhances accuracy, and saves time.
• Virtual Hearings and Online Courts - The COVID-19 pandemic forced the courts to adopt virtual hearings and e-courts. Through thousands of hearings being conducted via video conferencing, the Supreme Court and High Courts made sure that justice was delivered even in lockdown conditions. The integration of AI in scheduling cases, case file management, and administrative work automation was made possible by this digital revolution, which further improved judicial proficiency. The e-Courts Mission Mode Project Phase-3, a four-year Central Sector Scheme costing ₹7,210 crore, was authorized by the government last September. The e-Courts Project, a key component of the National eGovernance Plan, has been in operation since as far back as 2007.

Recent Developments

AI’s role in the Indian judiciary is multifaceted. It is equipped to automate case prioritization, categorization, scheduling, and docket management, helping in analysing large volumes of documents, translating proceedings, making recommendations based on records, predicting outcomes, and providing data-driven insights. For instance, last year, the presiding judge in Jaswinder Singh v. State of Punjab asked ChatGPT for feedback to gain a more comprehensive understanding of whether bail should be granted in cases involving “cruelty”. This reference was solely intended to provide a broader understanding of bail jurisprudence without dictating the case’s merits. In the recent case of Md Zakir Hussain v. State of Manipur, the Manipur High Court set a remarkable precedent by employing ChatGPT for research in a service matter. This decision came after the government failed to furnish the Court with essential information on the service rules of Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel.

Hon’ble Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud has been a strong proponent of integrating technology within the Supreme Court. Speaking at the East Zone II Regional Conference in Kolkata recently, he praised the use of AI for case sorting and calculating motor accident compensation. He also advocated for enhancing access to the Supreme Court's digital library to improve the availability of free judgment databases. His recurrent endorsements towards judicial innovation represent a constant prod and a major step in the right direction for the judiciary's adoption of AI.

Furthermore, the Indian Government has allocated a whopping ₹5,000 Crore for AI Computing Power as part of its expansive ₹10,000 crore IndiaAI Mission, providing over 10,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Additionally, ₹2,000 crore will support Indian startups in developing indigenous AI-based solutions. These substantial investment plans exhibits the government's dedication to employing AI for the advancement of the country, especially the judiciary.

Global Comparisons

India’s judiciary isn't alone in leveraging AI. The US uses AI-powered tools like COMPAS (Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions) to assist judges in risk assessment.

Similar to this, the UK has adopted the AI-based digital case system, which blazed through the smoke and proved to be a capable tool in the administration of justice, with the aim of lowering the accumulation of cases in the Crown's Court. Judges are assisted by AI systems in China's Smart Court system, which can on research historical cases and recommend relevant legislation and precedents. Hence, it is clear that the world is moving towards smarter, tech-driven judicial systems.

Conclusion

The Indian judiciary has made significant advancement with the integration of AI. It tackles the issue of case backlogs by making routine tasks like case management and legal research more efficient. AI tools improve system accessibility and efficiency by supporting decision-making without directly impacting the result. To guarantee that AI is a tool for justice rather than a substitute for jurisprudence, this gritty venture must be undertaken with careful consideration of ethical and legal ramifications. As we venture into this brave new world, we must keep our eyes wide open and ensure that technology serves humanity, not the other way around.

National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)