Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday said technology, being a tool to access justice, is “deeply intertwined with the very foundation of our republic” and said it not only makes courts more accountable and responsive but also brings people closer to courtrooms.
The CJI was addressing a “national conference on the technology landscape in Indian courts and the way forward” here.
“I am delighted to deliver the keynote address at this national conference, which aims to explore the transformative impact of technology on Indian courts and chart our future trajectory.
“The very convening of this conference underscores the significant progress we have made in harnessing technology to improve the delivery of justice,” the CJI said in his address.
Stating that technology is universally recognised as an indispensable catalyst for accessible justice, he said that this paradigm shift is truly encouraging.
“There is no better test of the depth and nuance of our discourse on technology than the agenda of this conference. We are no longer discussing whether we should adopt technology, but rather how we can make the most of it,” he said.
The Executive Committee Chairman said, “People often see me approach the podium and say, or at least think, ‘Oh, boss, are you going to talk about technology one more time? ‘ Often, these people are right!
“But many don’t realize that technology as a tool for accessing justice is not just a modern convenience or a trendy item, but is deeply intertwined with the very foundation of our republic. Using technology not only makes our courts more accountable and responsive, it also brings people closer to the courtroom.
“The use of technology is intrinsically linked to the values of transparency, democracy and equal access to justice, which are the cornerstones of our republic,” he said.
He said one example of how technology increases transparency in the judicial system is the live streaming of cases and the possibility of hybrid hearings.
“Virtual hearings are no longer an exception, born out of necessity, but a normative practice in judicial forums across the country, from the apex court to our courts. In the last four years, the Supreme Court has heard over eight hundred thousand cases through video conferencing or the hybrid hearing facility,” he said.
This change enhances transparency and accountability for all stakeholders – litigants, attorneys and the public, he said.
“With hybrid hearings, lawyers can now appear before courts across the country, ensuring that our citizens have access to the best legal representation. Importantly, even litigants can now access their hearings and witness the proceedings first-hand,” Chandrachud said.
“They are no longer dependent on intermediaries or on the version of the hearing told by their lawyers. This greater openness also makes us judges accountable for our words, actions and behaviour,” he said, adding: “In many ways, by embracing technology, we have transformed the theoretical ‘open court’ system into a practical reality.”
He also spoke about initiatives such as the National Judicial Data Grid or NJDG, saying they have further revolutionized transparency in the judicial system.
“With just a few clicks, the NJDG provides real-time data on case filing, institution and resolution rates, allowing citizens to monitor court efficiency,” he said.
Using artificial intelligence, transcripts of arguments before the Supreme Court’s constitutional benches have created a valuable open-access resource for researchers, legal practitioners and academics, he said.
“These AI-generated transcripts provide a reliable record of the deliberations and legal arguments presented before the court. I too have found them extremely useful in drafting judgments on complex legal issues,” he said.
Stating that for democracy to truly flourish, every citizen must feel connected to the nation’s institutions, he said he strongly believed the judiciary must play an equally vital role.
“A major barrier preventing citizens from engaging with the judiciary, especially the High Courts and the Supreme Court, is language. Our higher judiciary conducts its official work predominantly in English,” he said.
With the help of an artificial intelligence software called Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software or SUVAS, the apex court is actively translating its judgments and orders into regional languages, the CJI said.
We are working hard to expand this initiative and translate Supreme Court rulings into all scheduled languages, he said.
However, he cautioned that there is a need to ensure that AI does not encroach on creative processes that are inherently human.
“In fact, I believe that artificial intelligence will never be able to supplant these uniquely human efforts. It can augment, but never replace, the innovative spark, emotional intelligence and nuanced judgment that define our humanity,” he said.
First published: August 10, 2024 | 11:29 PM IS
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