AI and the Judiciary: A Vital Component of Viksit Bharat
India’s aspiration to evolve into a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is not solely reliant on advancements in infrastructure and innovation. At its heart, this vision hinges on the effectiveness of its institutions. While discussions often revolve around sectors like manufacturing, startups, and skill development, the true bedrock of a developed nation lies in institutions that deliver justice fairly, predictably, and on a large scale. In this landscape, the judiciary plays a crucial role in fostering investor confidence, maintaining social order, and upholding rights. In this regard, the Supreme Court of India’s White Paper on Artificial Intelligence and the Judiciary, published in November 2025, represents a significant stride towards aligning judicial reform with national development objectives.
Recognising the Extent of India’s Judicial Challenges
The White Paper presents AI not as a distant concept, but as a pragmatic solution to the immense judicial workload facing the country. According to data from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), Indian courts are currently grappling with over five crore pending cases, with nearly 90% of these cases lodged in district courts. A substantial number of these cases have remained unresolved for over three years, particularly in criminal matters. This underscores that the challenge extends beyond merely increasing the number of judges; it also involves enhancing administrative capacity, data management, and process efficiency.
From Digitisation to Intelligence
In the last twenty years, digitisation efforts—including e-filing, online judgments, and electronic cause lists—have significantly improved transparency and accessibility. The NJDG itself is a noteworthy digital public asset. However, the White Paper aptly points
out that digitisation alone cannot tackle the complexities and scale of the issues at hand. Artificial intelligence represents the next evolution, introducing analytical capabilities to the existing digital framework and facilitating improved administrative decision-making.
The Economic and Social Costs of Judicial Delays
Delays in the judicial process have profound economic implications. Lengthy litigation undermines contract enforcement, heightens business uncertainty, and ties up capital in unproductive disputes. Despite reforms like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, execution proceedings and commercial cases continue to languish in trial courts. These delays impose hidden costs on investment and economic growth.
The social ramifications are equally grave. Protracted family disputes, maintenance cases, and custody battles inflict emotional and financial burdens on individuals. Delays in criminal cases lead to prolonged incarceration of undertrials, raising serious concerns about liberty and fairness. When justice is postponed, public confidence in institutions diminishes, thereby undermining democratic governance.
Enhancing Judicial Administration with AI
Crucially, the White Paper establishes a clear constitutional framework: AI is intended to assist, not replace, judges. Judicial reasoning remains inherently human and accountable. AI is envisioned as a supportive tool to alleviate administrative burdens and enhance efficiency.
India has already established robust digital foundations through platforms such as e Courts, NJDG, e-SCR, and ICJS. Pilot initiatives like SUPACE (research assistance), SUVAS (translation), and TERES (transcription) illustrate how AI can streamline judicial processes without undermining authority.
AI can aid in classifying cases, prioritising urgent matters, identifying filing errors early, optimising cause lists, and enhancing legal research by summarising records and pinpointing relevant precedents. In a multilingual nation, AI-driven translation and transcription can significantly enhance access to justice.
Addressing Risks and Promoting Responsible Use
The White Paper also highlights potential risks, including algorithmic bias, erroneous citations, and data security issues. It strongly advocates for human oversight, curated datasets, secure in-house systems, and ongoing training for judges and court personnel. Experts emphasise the necessity for AI tools to be trained on Indian legal data to ensure their accuracy and relevance.
The Judiciary as a Catalyst for Development
A judiciary that resolves disputes swiftly and manages cases intelligently can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and social stability. Therefore, AI-enhanced judicial administration is not merely a technological upgrade; it represents a significant reform for development.
The Supreme Court’s White Paper offers a practical and incremental roadmap. If implemented thoughtfully, it has the potential to reduce case backlogs, enhance contract enforcement, and bolster institutional trust—positioning the judiciary as a subtle yet powerful ally in the vision of Viksit Bharat.
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