The Union government has clarified that while artificial intelligence (AI) is being actively tested to improve the efficiency of India’s judicial system, no formal policy or binding guidelines have yet been framed for its full-scale adoption in courts.
Responding to a query in the Lok Sabha on Friday, the government said that AI tools are currently being explored under the eCourts Mission Mode Project Phase-III, but their use remains limited to controlled pilot implementations.
As part of the National eGovernance Plan, Phase-III of the eCourts project is being implemented with a total outlay of ₹7,210 crore. The primary objective of this phase is to strengthen Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure across courts and make the justice delivery system:
More accessible
Cost-effective
Transparent
Reliable
Efficient
The initiative seeks to leverage modern technologies to enhance judicial productivity while ensuring smoother access to justice for citizens.
Under eCourts Phase-III, the government has earmarked ₹53.57 crore for “Future Technological Advancements”, which includes the exploration of AI and blockchain-based solutions.
However, the government stressed that the deployment of AI tools is restricted to areas approved in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project. At present, these technologies are not being used for autonomous judicial decision-making.
The government informed Parliament that AI-based solutions are currently operating only in pilot phases and are not governed by any standalone national policy.
The Supreme Court of India has constituted an Artificial Intelligence Committee to study and evaluate the use of AI in judicial processes. Any operational frameworks or guidelines related to AI usage will be regulated as per the Rules of Business and internal policies of the respective High Courts.
The judiciary has formally recognised several challenges associated with AI adoption, including:
Algorithmic bias
Language and translation limitations
Data privacy and cybersecurity risks
Need for manual verification of AI-generated outputs
To address these concerns, the eCommittee of the Supreme Court has constituted a sub-committee comprising six High Court judges and technical experts. This panel is tasked with recommending:
Secure digital connectivity
Robust authentication mechanisms
Enhanced data security safeguards
These measures are aimed at ensuring safe and responsible use of technology under the eCourts framework.
Several AI-enabled tools are presently undergoing pilot testing within the judicial ecosystem:
An AI-powered Legal Research Analysis Assistant (LegRAA) has been developed to assist judges in legal research and document analysis, helping reduce time spent on case preparation.
The upgraded Digital Courts 2.1 platform offers a single-window interface for accessing and managing case-related information.
Key AI features include:
Voice-to-text dictation (ASR-SHRUTI) for drafting orders and judgments
Translation support (PANINI) to overcome language barriers
These tools are intended to support judges administratively, not replace judicial reasoning.
According to the eCommittee of the Supreme Court, no instances of:
Systemic bias
Unintended content
Operational misuse
have been reported during the pilot implementation of AI tools so far.
The information was shared by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
India’s judiciary is cautiously experimenting with artificial intelligence to modernise court processes, improve efficiency, and reduce administrative burdens. However, the absence of a formal policy indicates a measured and responsible approach, ensuring that technology supports—rather than substitutes—judicial discretion.
As pilot projects mature and safeguards are strengthened, AI may play a larger role in judicial administration, but for now, its use remains limited, supervised, and policy-neutral.