Technology makes courts more accountable and brings people into the courtroom: CJI
He also spoke about initiatives like the National Judicial Data Grid, or NJDG, saying they have further revolutionized transparency in the justice system. | File photo
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday said that technology as a tool for accessing justice is “intimately intertwined with the very foundations of our republic”. He said it not only makes the courts more accountable and responsive but also brings people closer to the courtroom.
The CJI was addressing a ‘national conference on technological landscape in courts in India and the way forward’ here.
“I am delighted to deliver the opening address at this national conference, which aims to explore the transformative impact of technology on the Indian courts and chart our future course.
“The convening of this conference underscores the significant progress we have made in leveraging technology to improve the delivery of justice,” the CJI said in his address.
He stated that technology is widely recognized as an indispensable catalyst for accessible justice and said that this paradigm shift is indeed encouraging.
“There is no better evidence of the depth and nuance of our discourse on technology than the agenda of this conference. We are no longer discussing whether to embrace technology, but rather how to best leverage it,” he said.
The CJI said: “People often see me coming to the podium and say, or at least think, ‘Oh, Chief, are you going to talk about technology again?’ Often those people are right!
“But many may not realize that technology as a tool to access justice is not just a modern convenience or a trendy topic, it is deeply woven into the foundations of our republic. The use of technology not only makes our courts more accountable and responsive, it also brings people closer to the courtroom.
“The use of technology is inextricably linked to the values of transparency, democracy and equal access to justice, which are the cornerstone of our republic,” he said.
He cited livestreaming of cases and the possibility of hybrid hearings as examples of how technology increases transparency in the justice system.
“Virtual hearings are no longer an exception, born out of necessity, but have become a normative practice in judicial fora across the country – from the Supreme Court to our tribunals. In the last four years, the Supreme Court has heard over eight lakh cases through video conferencing or the hybrid hearing facility,” he informed.
This shift increases transparency and accountability for all stakeholders: litigants, lawyers and the public, he said.
“With hybrid hearings, lawyers can now appear in courts across the country, making best-in-class legal representation accessible to our citizens. Importantly, even litigants can now log in to their hearings and witness the proceedings with their own eyes,” Chandrachud said.
“They are no longer dependent on intermediaries or the version of the hearing told by their lawyers. This increased openness also holds us judges accountable for our words, actions and behavior,” 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 (NJDG), saying that these have further improved transparency in the justice system.
“With just a few clicks, the NJDG provides real-time data on pending cases, institution and clearance rates, allowing citizens to monitor the efficiency of the court,” he said.
Thanks to the use of artificial intelligence, the transcripts of oral arguments before the Supreme Court justices have become a valuable, freely accessible resource for researchers, lawyers 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 to be very useful in drafting judgments on complex legal questions,” he said.
He argued that for democracy to truly flourish, every citizen must feel connected to the country’s institutions. He firmly believed that the judiciary must play an equally important role.
“A major barrier that prevents citizens from engaging with the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court and the High Court, is language. Our higher judiciary carries out its official work mainly in English,” he said.
Using artificial intelligence software called Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS), the high court is actively translating its judgments and orders into regional languages, the CJI said.
We are working hard to expand this initiative and translate the Supreme Court decisions into all planned languages, he said.
However, he warned that we must ensure that AI does not infringe on creative processes that are inherently human.
“I believe that artificial intelligence can never replace these uniquely human efforts. It can amplify, but never replace, the innovative spark, emotional intelligence and nuanced judgment that define our humanity,” he said.
First publication: Aug 10, 2024 | 11:29 PM IST