Lok Sabha Question No. 3197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Artificial Intelligence in Judiciary
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3197 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 9th AUGUST, 2024

## Artificial Intelligence in Judiciary

3197. Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian:

Thiru D M Kathir Anand:

Will the MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  appropriate  measures  to  translate  the proceedings and judgements of Supreme Court and High Courts across the country through Artificial Intelligence and publish them;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the total funds sanctioned for the same and the translation projects and jobs undertaken by the Supreme Court and High Courts in the country so far;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  special  recruitment  drive  for filling up of vacancies in SC/ST/OBC and Minority communities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a)  to  (c)  :The  Supreme  Court  of  India  has  adopted  the  use  of  Artificial Intelligence(AI)  language  technology  in  translation  of  judicial  documents  as well as in legal research and process automation etc. AI has also been deployed for  transcribing  oral  arguments,  particularly  in  Constitution  Bench  matters since February 2023.

A Committee headed by Hon'ble Judge of the Supreme Court of India has been constituted to monitor the translation of important Supreme Court and High  Court  judgments  into  vernacular  languages.  The  Committee  is  having regular meetings with the Sub-Committees of High Courts comprising Hon'ble Judges to expedite the process of translation.

The  AI  Translation  Committees  of  the  High  Courts  are  monitoring  the entire  work  relating  to  translation  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  High  Court Judgments into vernacular language.  As on date, 8 High Courts have already started e-High Court Reports (e-HCR) and other High Courts are in the process of launching e-HCR.

The AI Committees of the High Courts have been informed to request the respective State Governments to translate all the Central and State Legislation, Rules, Regulations, etc. into regional language and put it on the State website so as to help the common man to read it in the regional language. It has also been impressed upon all the State Governments to extend full support to the respective High Courts in the exercise of translation of judgments, since it is part of 'access to justice' as envisaged under the Constitution of India.

As on 05.08.2024, 36,271 Supreme Court Judgments have been translated in  Hindi  language  and  17,142  Judgments  of  Supreme  Court  have  been translated in other 16 regional languages and the same are available on the eSCR portal.

No separate  fund  has  been  sanctioned  to  Supreme  Court  for  this  translation project.

(d) and (e): The appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts is made under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India, which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons.

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