Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Can Assist, But Justice Needs a Human Touch: Justice Surya Kant

Context:

Recently, Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant stated that employing technology “thoughtfully and inclusively can close the ongoing gaps in our justice system” but emphasised that it cannot substitute for human involvement, asserting that “the essence of justice must stay human.”

While speaking at the Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, on the topic “Bridging the Gap: Reimagining Legal Aid in the Digital Age for Inclusive Justice in India”, the Justice rightfully said, “With the right vision and safeguards, technology can break the geographical barriers, democratise legal awareness and bring the legal aid to the doorstep or closest to every citizen.”  

Justice in the digital age – balancing AI innovation with the human touch in India’s legal system.

Introduction: Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a Bridge to Justice:

In the current digital age, technology serves as a powerful influence that can change the framework of legal assistance and justice provision in India. Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant, during his Justice R.C. Lahoti Memorial Lecture, highlighted that although India has achieved notable technological progress, access to justice is still predominantly analogue. Although courts may operate online and laws are digitised, effective legal assistance has not extended to the most disadvantaged groups in society. Justice Kant argued that with careful and inclusive application, technology can eliminate geographical barriers, promote legal awareness for all, and provide legal assistance directly to every citizen's reach. 

He further said, 'No technology is neutral.' The tools which we build reflect the values we digitise. Legal aid: we must design systems with built-in ethics. In continuation, if we incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into India’s judicial system, it will lead to potential opportunities for reform. Such legal AI-driven tools can aid in case management, legal research, and document translation, enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of legal processes. 

Furthermore, projects such as virtual Lok Adalats, mobile legal literacy applications, and AI-powered chatbots are proving the capability of technology to engage marginalised groups, from tribal populations in Srinagar to domestic violence victims in Assam.

The Irreplaceable Human Element in Justice:

Justice is not simply the automatic enforcement of laws, but it is a profoundly human pursuit based on compassion, insight, and ethical judgement. Although technology has transformed various facets of legal systems, the human factor is still indispensable. Legal conflicts frequently encompass intricate feelings, individual backgrounds, and societal settings that algorithms or automated systems cannot entirely represent. A chatbot can offer legal details, but it is unable to console a domestic violence victim, understand the cultural subtleties of a tribal land disagreement, or compassionately mediate a family dispute. These circumstances require human empathy, moral reasoning, and the capability to hear, not merely to analyse. Furthermore, justice revolves around trust. Citizens should sense that their voices are acknowledged, valued, and comprehended. When legal aid turns impersonal, simplified to ticket numbers or automated messages, it jeopardises its ability to connect with the individuals it intends to support. Human engagement promotes responsibility and confidence. A lawyer's advice, a judge's understanding, or a paralegal's assistance can determine whether an individual feels empowered or defeated by the system. Technology has the potential and should improve justice—by increasing accessibility, efficiency, and transparency. However, it should serve as a tool, not as a replacement.

The digital revolution should be steered by compassionate values, guaranteeing that each advancement enhances, instead of substitutes, the human connection. As Justice Kant appropriately pointed out, “Justice must continue to listen.” And truly hearing, really hearing, is a skill that only humans possess.

Justice in the Digital Age: Bridging Inequality with Inclusive Legal Aid:

“Since Independence, we must ask ourselves: Is justice truly accessible to all ? Across India migrant workers, tribal communities, daily earners, women abandoned by families, and undertrial prisoners – for such wide communities, our legal system still remains distant and unintelligible.

“With ongoing digital initiatives such as Digitally Accessible India, the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile), and the e-Courts Mission Mode Project, India is steadily laying the groundwork for comprehensive justice reform. However, to fully realise the potential of these efforts, it is essential that these government-led digital strategies are seamlessly integrated with broader reforms within the justice sector. This convergence will ensure that technological advancements translate into tangible improvements in access to justice, efficiency in legal processes, and empowerment of all stakeholders within the judicial system.

Way Forward:

In conclusion, the virtual Lok Adalats should also become a reality by harnessing secure video platforms. Case hearings, especially for family disputes, minor civil issues, and labour disputes, can happen with minimum travel and cost, saving litigants time and resources. The success of such initiatives during the COVID-19 period, like in Maharashtra, where thousands of cases were settled virtually. And in Tamil Nadu state, the legal aid chatbots in Tamil have been deployed for land rights and tenancy for their queries.  

Justice Surya Kant rightly said that "Artificial intelligence, if ethically and transparently deployed, can be another game-changer in helping screen cases, prioritise urgent needs, and even generate first-level documents," and it is a necessary step in the 21st century to empower the Indian judiciary. With AI tools offering intelligent assistance in legal research, drafting and case management, we stand at the threshold of a judicial revolution where access to justice is not delayed but delivered - Swiftly, Fairly, and digitally.

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