CJI Surya Kant Flags AI Bias Risks In Judiciary, Calls For Ethical Use Of Technology

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education in Gangtok, the CJI said that while AI can significantly enhance judicial efficiency, it must never replace judicial reasoning. Instead, judges must be equipped to critically evaluate such systems to safeguard the integrity of adjudication.

“As we integrate automated tools like AI into our daily work, the judge’s role as guardian of the human element becomes even more significant,” he said, stressing that judicial education must evolve to identify and counter algorithmic bias.

The CJI called for a “rigorous and forward-looking” pedagogical shift in judicial training, emphasising that ethics must remain central to the adoption of technology in courts. He noted that while AI tools can assist in identifying patterns in sentencing and bail decisions to ensure consistency, the ultimate control must rest with judges.

“We are preparing a generation of jurists who see technology as an aid to their commitment to fairness, not a replacement for it,” he said.

At the event, the CJI declared Sikkim as the country’s first fully paperless judiciary, marking a significant milestone in India’s digital justice transformation.

Congratulating the Sikkim High Court, he described the move as a “tectonic step” towards modernising the justice delivery system. A paperless judiciary, he explained, involves complete digitisation of court processes, including e-filing, digital records, online hearings and real-time case tracking.

The CJI highlighted that technology has helped dismantle traditional barriers to justice, particularly in geographically challenging regions. “Distance was once measured in days of travel across narrow paths and unpredictable weather. Today, digital systems have transformed that reality,” he said.

Referring to the e-Courts Project, the CJI said it has “rewritten the relationship between the litigant and the law” by making court processes more accessible and transparent.

He pointed to platforms like the National Judicial Data Grid as the “beating heart” of judicial data, offering real-time insights into case pendency and performance.

The Chief Justice also highlighted AI-enabled tools such as SUVAS and SUPACE, which assist judges with translation and legal research, reducing routine burdens and enabling deeper focus on complex legal issues. “These innovations act as force multipliers,” he said.

Addressing emerging challenges, the CJI flagged cybercrime as a critical concern requiring a coordinated and technically informed judicial response. He called for enhanced expertise in digital forensics and stronger collaboration across institutions. He also emphasised the need for standardisation across courts through systems like the National Core Case Information System (NC CIS), along with the expansion of e-Seva Kendras to bridge the digital divide.

With over 2,200 such centres operational in district courts and dozens in High Courts, he said these hubs must evolve into robust digital support systems, especially for citizens with limited technological access.

The CJI noted that AI holds potential even at the trial court level, particularly in streamlining processes such as asset verification in recovery suits and identifying patterns in judicial outcomes.

However, he cautioned that judicial academies must go beyond basic digital literacy and train judges to understand how algorithmic systems function and interact with principles of natural justice. “Only then can technology be integrated in a manner that strengthens, rather than unsettles, the core values of the legal system,” he said.

The conclave was attended by international judicial dignitaries, including the Chief Justice of Seychelles and a judge of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, reflecting a growing global dialogue on technology in judicial systems.