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Dec  04- 2025

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE VS. JUDGES – Justice Manmohan’s Vision for India’s Legal Future

India’s judicial system stands on the brink of what Justice Manmohan of the Supreme Court of India calls the “fourth industrial revolution.” Speaking at two recent high-level events in Delhi including a conference on Transforming Justice Delivery with AI & Technology and the International Legal Conference 2025. Justice Manmohan highlighted both the transformative opportunities and urgent challenges that emerging technologies present for the judiciary.

Far from replacing judges with machines, he stressed, the purpose of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) is to augment human decision making, accelerate justice delivery, and strengthen constitutional values not weaken them.

A System Under Pressure: Scale, Speed & the Need for Technological Transformation

India’s judiciary serves 1.4 billion people, with courts currently grappling with over 50 million pending cases. Justice Manmohan noted that behind this enormous number are millions of citizens waiting for justice, livelihoods, and relief.

He underscored major structural constraints:

  • Only 21 judges per million people (below global benchmarks)
  • Limited court working hours
  • An exponentially rising volume of digital-era disputes

Incremental steps cannot address the problem, he warned. The system needs a force multiplier, and that force multiplier is technology.

The pandemic provided a glimpse of what is possible: Indian courts shifted to virtual hearings almost overnight, conducting millions of hearings through video conferencing. This, he noted, proved that the judiciary is not rigid but adaptive capable of embracing innovation to ensure continuity even in crises.

AI in Courts: From Automation to Augmentation

Justice Manmohan emphasized that the judiciary is transitioning from the age of information to the age of intelligence. AI can do much more than store documents it can analyse patterns, assist research, streamline workflows, and help manage complex dockets.

Key examples already in use:

  1. SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software)

A transformative AI translation tool, enabling judgments to be converted into Indian languages quickly, making justice more accessible.

  1. SUPACE (Supreme Court’s AI-Assisted Research Tool)

An intelligent assistant that can scan vast volumes of case material in seconds and help judges extract relevant facts and precedents.

  1. AI-Based Real Time Transcription

During Constitution Bench hearings, real-time AI transcriptions ensure accurate recording of oral arguments.

  1. Docket & Case Management

AI can cluster thousands of similar cases land acquisition litigations, for instance—saving valuable judicial time.

Justice Manmohan clarified a common misconception:

AI will not create “robo judges.” It will create empowered judges.

AI will handle repetitive tasks, while judges will focus on deeper constitutional reasoning and nuanced adjudication the true essence of justice.

Learning from the World: What India Should Adopt and Avoid

Justice Manmohan compared India’s approach with global practices:

  • China: Internet Courts and AI-driven online adjudication handle millions of cases. Highly efficient but raises concerns about impersonality.
  • United States: COMPAS and similar tools help determine bail and sentencing but have been criticized for racial bias.

He cautioned that India cannot copy-paste international models. A diverse society, a constitutional ethos of equality, and complex litigation patterns demand a human-centric, India-specific framework.

He insisted on a human in the loop architecture where AI supports but never replaces judicial judgment.

Ethics, Bias & Constitutional Concerns: The Non-Negotiables

Justice Manmohan devoted significant attention to the risks associated with AI:

  1. Algorithmic Bias

AI models trained on historical data may replicate discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status.

He cited the ProPublica investigation into COMPAS, which disproportionately flagged African-American defendants as “high risk.” India must avoid similar pitfalls.

  1. Transparency & Explainability

No opaque “black-box algorithm” should influence judicial outcomes. AI systems used by courts should be:

  • Transparent
  • Explainable
  • Preferably open-source
  1. Privacy & Data Protection

Courts handle extremely sensitive personal data. AI systems must ensure confidentiality, prevent misuse, and respect rights like the Right to Be Forgotten.

  1. The Digital Divide

Technology must democratize access, not deepen inequality. Many rural litigants and lawyers still struggle with connectivity and digital literacy—these gaps must be addressed before widescale AI integration.

Judging Is an Art Not a Mechanical Exercise

While technology can accelerate processes, Justice Manmohan reminded that judging itself is deeply human.

AI cannot:

  • Understand human suffering
  • Detect coercion in a trembling voice
  • Balance retribution, deterrence, and rehabilitation in criminal sentencing
  • Exercise compassion or the “healing touch” of equity

“Adjudication is an art, not a mechanical calculation.”

AI may assist, but justice will always require empathy, discretion, and moral reasoning qualities only humans possess.

A Hybrid Judicial Future: Digital Efficiency with a Human Core

Justice Manmohan outlined a vision for a hybrid justice system, blending physical and digital mechanisms:

  1. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)

High volume, low value cases traffic challans, cheque-bounce matters, small civil disputes should shift to online or AI-assisted mediation to eliminate unnecessary court burden.

  1. Predictive Justice Tools

AI-powered analytics can help litigants estimate the probability of success based on precedent clusters. This can encourage settlements and reduce litigation.

  1. Modernizing Legal Education

Law schools must teach:

  • Technology
  • Coding basics
  • Data governance
  • AI ethics

The next generation of lawyers must be prepared for an AI-driven legal ecosystem.

Beyond Courts: AI, Fintech & the Future of Trade

At the International Legal Conference 2025, Justice Manmohan also addressed digital economy challenges:

  • AI & Intellectual Property: If AI creates music, art, or designs, who owns the rights? These complex questions require urgent legal evolution.
  • Data Privacy: With data becoming the “new oil,” he praised the Supreme Court’s recognition of privacy as a fundamental right and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act as a major milestone.
  • Cybersecurity: He urged robust laws and a culture of cyber resilience, noting that cyber threats do not respect borders.
  • Standard Essential Patents (SEPs): Modern devices contain thousands of patented technologies. Their global nature requires harmonized dispute resolution mechanisms to prevent fragmentation and promote ease of doing business.
  • Fintech Innovation: India’s UPI-led fintech revolution brings opportunities but also regulatory challenges in:

a. Data protection
b. Consumer safety
c. Financial stability
d. Cross-border payments

Law, he noted, must keep pace without stifling innovation.

Conclusion: A Future Built on Technology, Anchored in Constitutional Values

“Technology Must Serve Justice, Not Supersede It.”

Justice Manmohan closed with a powerful reminder:

  • Technology is a tool, not a substitute for human wisdom.
  • AI must serve the rule of law, not supplant it.
  • The integrity, independence, and empathy of human judges remain the ultimate safeguard of justice.

With constitutional values as the compass and responsible innovation as the vessel, India is poised to lead the world in building a modern, equitable, and tech-enabled justice system.