SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Ministry of Law and Justice | Supreme Court of India
The Ministry of Law and Justice provided a Parliamentary response confirming the status of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration within the Indian judiciary, noting a dual focus: expanding digital infrastructure and proactively managing the risks posed by manipulated digital content.
Status of AI Implementation and Digital Infrastructure:
eCourts Project Phase III: This phase, with an outlay of ₹7,210 crore, is currently under implementation with the vision of transforming the judicial system through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enablement.
AI Integration Funding: A specific amount of ₹53.57 crore has been earmarked within eCourts Project Phase III for the component “Future Technological Advancements (AI, Blockchain etc)”.
Pilot Status: Currently, no formal policy or guidelines exist for adopting AI tools in judicial processes, as AI-based solutions remain in a controlled pilot phase. Authorities use AI only within areas approved in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of eCourts Phase III.
Active AI Tools: The Supreme Court’s eCommittee is piloting several indigenous AI-based tools:
Legal Research Analysis Assistant [LegRAA]: Developed to aid judges in legal research and document analysis.
Digital Courts 2.1: Designed as a single window for managing all case-related information and tasks.
Functionalities: The platform includes voice-to-text (ASR-SHRUTI) and translation (PANINI) functionalities to assist judges with order and judgment dictation.
Current Performance: The eCommittee reports no systemic bias, unintended content, or other issues during the pilot phase.
Addressing Digital and AI Risks:
Risk Recognition: The judiciary is aware that integrating AI poses key challenges, including algorithmic bias, language and translation issues, data privacy and security concerns, and the need for manual verification of AI-generated outputs.
Legal Safeguards: Existing and new laws are used to prosecute cases related to morphed or fabricated digital content (e.g., deepfakes), including offenses under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (e.g., identity theft, cheating by personation) and the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (electronic forgery).
Evidence Authentication: Procedures for the authentication and admissibility of electronic records have been strengthened under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, which mandates electronic record authentication certificates.
Data Security Oversight: A Sub-Committee of six High Court judges with technical experts has been formed to recommend secure connectivity and authentication mechanisms for data and privacy protection.
Policy Relevance
This response confirms the government’s dual policy approach: investing significantly in AI for judicial efficiency (₹53.57 crore earmarked for AI) while preemptively reinforcing the legal and technical safeguards against digital fraud and bias. The emphasis on strengthening electronic record authentication and convening a high-level sub-committee to secure data reflects a strong commitment to ensuring digital transformation upholds judicial integrity and citizen rights.
What is the eCourts Mission Mode Project? The eCourts Mission Mode Project is a national initiative to transform the judicial system by using ICT enablement of courts, with the vision of enhancing judicial productivity, quality, and accessibility. Phase III is currently underway with a ₹7,210 crore outlay.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: Despite reporting no systemic bias in pilots, what formal, mandatory guidelines will the Supreme Court’s AI Committee propose to ensure human oversight and mitigate algorithmic bias before AI solutions are scaled across all judicial processes?
Follow the full news here: Use of AI Based Digital Content in Judiciary