Lok Sabha Question No. 3476 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Use of Artificial Intelligence in Judiciary
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Praveen Patel, Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Janardan Mishra, Shri Suresh Kumar Kashyap, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya, Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Shri Jai Prakash, Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Dulu Mahato, Shri P C Mohan, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Shri Chintamani Maharaj, Shri Alok Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

## (DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3476

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 21 st MARCH, 2025

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Judiciary

## 3476 . SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ:

SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:

SHRI DULU MAHATO:

SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:

SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SHRI P C MOHAN:

SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SHRI JAI PRAKASH:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in to the Judiciary and Law Enforcement in the country;
- (b)if so, whether any special policies or guidelines are being prepared for the use of Ethical AI in the legal system, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the manner in which AI is being utilized to reduce the pendency of cases in Indian Courts and improve their working efficiency;
- (d)the manner in which the law enforcement agencies could ensure accountability and transparency in the use of AI technologies; and
- (e) the biggest challenges being faced in implementing AI in the Indian legal system along with the strategies being adopted/scheme proposed to be formulated by the Government to overcome these challenges?

## 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 (e): According to the information provided by the Supreme Court of India, under e-Courts Project Phase III, an attempt is being made to integrate modern technologies for smoother user experience and to build a "smart" system in which registries will have minimal data entry and scrutiny of files. To create a smart system, the latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence (Al) and its subsets Machine Learning (ML), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Natural Language Processing (NLP), etc., are being used in the e-Courts software applications. Al is being used in areas such as translation, prediction and forecast, improving administrative efficiency, Natural Language Processing (NLP), automated filing, intelligent scheduling, enhancing the case information system and communicating with the litigants through chatbots. This will facilitate in improving administrative efficiency by optimising the time required for various judicial processes and automating the ones which can do away with manual intervention.AI based algorithms are being utilised by the law enforcement agencies proactively for analysing vast data on crime and for gaining real time insights, thereby, facilitating objective decision making and taking care of ethical considerations in the process.

No special policies/guidelines have been prepared for use of ethical AI in the legal system, but its use is strictly within the confines of the areas outlined in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of e-Courts Project Phase III. However, a SubCommittee consisting of six judges of the various High Courts, assisted by technical working group members consisting of domain experts has been constituted by the Chairperson of the eCommittee of the Supreme Court of India to suggest/recommend secure connectivity and authentication mechanisms for data protection to preserve the right to privacy. The Sub-Committee is mandated

to critically assess and examine the digital infrastructure, network and service delivery solutions created under the eCourts project for giving solutions for strengthening data security and for protecting the privacy of citizens.

Timely disposal of cases in courts depends on several factors which, interalia, include availability of adequate number of judges and judicial officers, supporting court staff and physical infrastructure, complexity of facts involved, nature of evidence, co-operation of stake holders viz. bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants and proper application of rules and procedures. There are several factors which may lead to delay in disposal of cases. These, inter-alia, include vacancies of judges, frequent adjournments and lack of adequate arrangement to monitor, track and bunch cases for hearing. Under the eCourts Project Phase III, AI is planned to be used for translation of judgements/orders and other documents, for automated filing, intelligent scheduling of cases, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and for enhancing the case information system which will help in streamlining the processes, etc.

Some of the major challenges in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into judicial processes, including case management, legal research, and translation services, include, potential biases in AI algorithms, language barriers, translation accuracy, concerns on privacy/security of data, need for manual verification of the machine/AI translated documents, besides, ensuring accuracy of Al enabled results. Efforts are being made for continuous upgrades in technology apart from skill upgradation and process re-engineering. Under eCourts Phase III, an amount of Rs. 53.57 Cr has been allocated for funding such Future Technologies and their adoption in streamlining the judicial processes and the challenges being faced.

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