Key facts
- CJI Surya Kant said technology can aid courts but justice is a human endeavour
- CJI also warned courts face a challenge of preserving public trust
- Remarks come amid judiciary's active adoption of digital and AI tools
- India's courts carry a massive backlog of pending cases
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has delivered a clear message on the future of judicial technology: digital tools are welcome aids, but the act of delivering justice must remain a human one. Speaking at a recent event, the CJI emphasised that while technology could improve efficiency and access within the court system, the nuanced, empathetic, and morally weighted nature of judicial decisions could not be delegated to machines.
The CJI also flagged a broader institutional concern, warning that courts today face the challenge of preserving public trust — a remark that carries weight at a time when the judiciary is under scrutiny over pendency, accessibility, and accountability. His comments suggest an awareness at the highest levels of the judiciary that the courts' legitimacy rests not only on their legal authority but on the confidence citizens place in them.
India's courts are currently exploring a range of technological interventions, from AI-assisted case management and virtual hearings to automated scheduling systems. While these tools have helped ease some administrative burdens, debates continue about whether algorithmic assistance in legal research or judgment-drafting crosses a line that should not be crossed.
CJI Surya Kant's remarks are likely to shape the ongoing conversation among judges, lawyers, and policymakers about where technology ends and the irreplaceable human judgment of a judge must begin — a distinction with profound consequences for how millions of Indians experience justice.