Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Supreme Court has released draft regulations governing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in courts, making it clear that AI can assist the judicial process but can never replace human decision-making. The proposed framework states that no judgment, order, sentence or finding of fact and law can be based solely on AI-generated outputs.
The draft, issued by the Supreme Court’s Artificial Intelligence Committee, has been placed in the public domain for comments and suggestions until June 20. If adopted, the regulations will apply to the Supreme Court, High Courts, tribunals and statutory commissions performing adjudicatory functions across India.
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The proposed rules seek to balance technological innovation with judicial independence amid growing use of AI tools in the legal sector. The move comes after courts flagged concerns over lawyers and litigants relying on AI-generated content that, in some cases, cited non-existent judgments and legal precedents.
Under the draft framework, AI can be used for administrative and support functions such as case management, identifying defects in filings, preparing cause lists, scheduling hearings, legal research, citation verification, document summarisation, automated transcription and translation of judgments into regional languages.
However, the regulations draw a clear line on adjudicatory functions. AI will not be permitted to determine judicial outcomes, recommend sentences, assess witness credibility or decide questions of fact and law. The draft mandates a “Human-in-the-Loop” approach, ensuring that all final decisions remain exclusively with judges.
The Supreme Court said the regulations are based on principles of human primacy, transparency, accountability, data protection and judicial independence. The draft also prohibits the use of personal data to train or refine AI systems without appropriate approvals and compliance with applicable data protection laws.
To oversee AI adoption in the judiciary, the proposal envisages a three-tier governance structure, including a permanent apex regulatory authority headed by a Supreme Court judge, AI committees in every High Court, and a dedicated Centre of Research and Excellence on Artificial Intelligence.
The regulations also require all AI tools used by courts to undergo annual audits and periodic reviews. The judiciary hopes the framework will help address case backlogs and improve efficiency while ensuring that technology remains a support tool rather than a substitute for judicial reasoning.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
