TLDR: The Supreme Court of India is actively integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tools to streamline various judicial processes, including case management, real-time transcription of oral arguments, and translation of judgments into 18 Indian languages. These technological advancements aim to improve efficiency and accessibility within the legal system, though they are strictly not used for judicial decision-making.
The Supreme Court of India is at the forefront of judicial innovation, increasingly deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tools to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of its operations. This strategic integration of technology addresses the growing caseload and aims to modernize the judicial system.
One of the primary applications of AI and ML is in advanced case management. These tools are being utilized to organize and process cases more effectively, contributing to a smoother workflow within the court. A significant development is the real-time transcription of oral arguments, particularly in Constitution Bench matters. These AI-assisted transcripts are made publicly available on the Supreme Court’s official website, promoting transparency and ease of access to court proceedings. The Court is also considering extending this transcription service to regular hearing days, such as Thursdays, to further broaden its impact.
In a major push for linguistic accessibility, the Supreme Court, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), is employing AI-powered translation tools to convert judgments from English into 18 Indian languages. These languages include Assamese, Bengali, Garo, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Khasi, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Santali, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. These translated judgments are accessible through the e-SCR portal, making legal information available to a wider population across the country.
Further enhancing procedural efficiency, the Supreme Court, in partnership with IIT Madras, has developed and deployed AI and ML-based tools integrated with the electronic filing system. These tools are designed to identify defects in case filings, a crucial step in reducing administrative burdens and speeding up the initial stages of litigation. A prototype of this system has already been shared with 200 Advocates-on-Record for initial use and feedback, indicating a collaborative approach to technological adoption. The Court is also testing AI/ML prototypes for tasks such as defect rectification, and data and metadata extraction, which will be integrated into the electronic filing module and the Integrated Case Management & Information System (ICMIS).
It is crucial to note that while AI and ML tools are being extensively used to assist with various administrative and procedural tasks, the Supreme Court has explicitly clarified that these technologies are not currently used in the judicial decision-making process. This distinction underscores the court’s commitment to maintaining human oversight in critical legal determinations.
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Another key AI initiative under development is the Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency (SUPACE). This tool is designed to aid in understanding case facts, intelligently search legal precedents, and streamline case identification. SUPACE remains in the experimental phase, with its full deployment contingent on the procurement and installation of advanced hardware components such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has previously stated that the adoption of AI in the judicial system is inevitable, despite the challenges, highlighting the potential for AI-powered transcription and other administrative tasks to be successfully delegated to AI.
