At the Karnataka judicial officers conference, the top judge urged cautious, deliberate use of AI to keep judges independent and ensure judicial reasoning isn’t outsourced to machines.

AORs were reminded they remain the crucial link between litigants and the Supreme Court, responsible for well-drafted pleadings, verified facts, and sound legal grounds.

There is a risk of AI-driven misrepresentation through flawed or superficial submissions, which would add pressure to an already overburdened system.

The stance on AI and drafting is expected to influence legal education and practice, with greater emphasis on precise drafting and potential changes in how firms allocate work and train juniors.

Drafting is a key learning process for young lawyers, interpreting statutes and precedents; automation could diminish this critical training.

Structural challenges like case pendency were acknowledged, with reforms proposed alongside technology, including infrastructure upgrades and modernized processes.

Systemic reforms, in addition to technology, were highlighted as necessary to tackle pendency and improve judicial capacity and processes.

The government pledged commitment to judicial infrastructure and digitization, outlining time-bound case management, jurisdictional restructuring, stronger government litigation practices, and expanded legal aid.

Measures to strengthen infrastructure and digital transformation include time-bound case management, restructuring to ease higher courts’ burden, enhanced government litigation practices, and expanded legal aid.

Professional credibility should be earned from day one, not by tenure or seniority alone.

A Supreme Court bench in South India was proposed to improve access to justice and reduce regional disparities.

The CJI stressed drafting as a human skill, warning that outsourcing can erode thinking, clarity, and engagement with facts and law.