By: Moieen Ahammed Faruque
[3/5 Pendekanti Law College]
[Kerry Roper/ Debut Art]
Introduction
The Indian judicial system is one of the world’s oldest and largest systems, standing at
a phase of massive reforms. With over 4.6 crore pending cases across various courts, India’s judiciary faces an overwhelming burden. The integration of Artificial Intelligence
(AI) offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance efficiency, transparency, and
accessibility in justice delivery.
AI isn’t here to replace judges or lawyers, it's here to redefine how justice works. From
digitizing case records to predicting case outcomes, AI is ushering in a smarter, faster,
and more citizen-friendly legal ecosystem.
The Evolution of AI in Indian Courts
From Paper to Pixels:
India’s journey toward an AI-powered judiciary began with the eCourts Mission Project
(2007), which digitized district courts and established real-time access to case data.
According to Ministry of Law and Justice, The third phase of this project backed by a
₹7,210 crore budget focuses on automation, AI-enabled analytics, and virtual
courtrooms. This digital transformation aims to minimize manual processes and create a seamless
legal workflow powered by technology. AI-Powered Initiatives by the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has introduced multiple AI-based tools to streamline judicial efficiency:
● SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency): Helps judges analyze documents, summarize cases, and find relevant precedents quickly.
● SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software): Uses AI to translate judgments into 16 Indian languages, ensuring accessibility for all citizens.
● Adalat.AI : This speech-to-text tool assists in real-time transcription of court proceedings.
● These tools are designed to assist, not replace, human judgment preserving the integrity of judicial reasoning while improving operational speed.
● For instance, the Kerala High Court mandated the use of Adalat.AI in late 2025 to record witness depositions in all lower courts.
Real-Time Example: AI in Action
A vivid illustration of AI’s impact in Indian courts was shared in The Print, comparing two courtrooms in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, both within the same compound.
In one, a stenographer furiously types on a keyboard as the judge dictates, the process halting every few moments. “Write submitted, not said,” the judge corrects but proceedings pause until the typing catches up. The lawyer waits silently; the witness fidgets impatiently.
Just a few doors away, Judge Shireen Sultana speaks into a microphone, and every word instantly appears on her desktop screen. “Next case, please,” she says calmly. The clerk switches files, and within minutes, the room begins to empty , case closed, orders passed. Justice moves fast here, an AI tool made it possible.
This stark contrast highlights the transformative potential of AI in real-world judicial settings, where automation isn’t a futuristic dream but a working reality improving productivity and fairness.
AI has emerged as a silent partner in India’s justice system, supporting every stakeholder from judges to clerks to citizen in:
1. Streamlining Case Management
Through the e-Courts Project, AI is being integrated for automated case management, including intelligent scheduling, prioritizing cases, and assisting with administrative tasks like e-filing and document digitization. This eliminates administrative bottlenecks, allowing judges to focus on decision-making rather than paperwork.
2. Accelerating Legal Research
Instead of manually reviewing hundreds of case laws, AI-based research engines can analyze massive databases and highlight relevant precedents within seconds, boosting productivity and efficiency.
3. Predictive Analysis for Case Outcomes
Using data from past judgments, AI can forecast likely case outcomes and recommend optimal legal strategies. While it doesn’t make decisions, it enhances the data-driven decision-making process.
4. Bridging the Language Divide
With India’s linguistic diversity, tools like SUVAS play a crucial role in ensuring that justice isn’t lost in translation. AI-powered translation tools make legal information accessible across multiple regional languages, strengthening inclusivity.
AI in Law Enforcement and Legal Practice
Beyond the courtroom, AI is reshaping law enforcement and legal professions:
● Predictive Policing: AI helps identify crime hotspots by analyzing behavioral
patterns and historical data.
● Facial Recognition: Used in several states for identifying suspects and
tracking offenders.
● Surveillance and video analytics: Systems use computer vision to
automatically recognize objects, detect suspicious behavior, or identify faces
in real-time from camera feeds. This is used to identify threats, track suspects,
and analyze large volumes of video data.
● Legal Research Platforms: Indian startups like LawSimpl, ManuPatra, and
DraftBot Pro are integrating generative AI to assist lawyers with contract
drafting, document review, and case analysis.
These innovations don’t just enhance efficiency, they democratize access to legal
knowledge, enabling even small firms and individual lawyers to leverage advanced
technologies.
Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
Opportunities:
● Faster Case Resolution: AI-driven analytics can help clear backlogs faster by
automating repetitive clerical work.
● Data-Driven Insights: Judges and lawyers can identify patterns in case laws
and judicial behavior.
● Enhanced Transparency: Public access to digitized data can strengthen trust
in the legal system.
Challenges:
● Algorithmic Bias: If trained on unbalanced datasets, AI may replicate societal
biases in judgments.
● Privacy Concerns: Sensitive legal data needs strict protection under India’s
forthcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
● Ethical Oversight: AI systems must remain transparent and explainable to
maintain judicial accountability.
The balance between automation and human ethics will define how India’s judiciary
evolves in this new era.
The balance between automation and human ethics will define how India’s judiciary
evolves in this new era.
Conclusion
Over 4000 courts across nine states adopted the integration of AI in the Indian judicial
system. It represents a bold leap toward a more efficient and accessible future. By
blending technology with human wisdom, India can transform its courts into intelligent,
transparent, and citizen-centric institutions.
One question remains: could the next generation of Indian lawyers and judges be
trained alongside AI copilots of justice?
