Indian courts are undergoing a fundamental transformation, moving away from traditional authoritarian structures towards becoming more democratic and inclusive spaces for discourse, according to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud.
Speaking at the J20 summit in Brazil on Wednesday, CJI Chandrachud highlighted the strides made by Indian courts in embracing innovation and leveraging technology to enhance justice delivery mechanisms. He noted that in India, it is common for judges to engage with the bar and play the devil’s advocate to extract the best response.
However, this approach is sometimes misunderstood, as opinions of the bench and misleading clips of the proceedings are circulated on the internet. To address this issue, India has a robust network of legal journalists who live-report the proceedings and help dispel disinformation, CJI Chandrachud said.
Additionally, the country is using SUVAS, a machine learning, AI-enabled translation tool, to translate judgments into 16 regional languages. So far, more than 36,000 cases have been translated, he said.
To further enhance accessibility, live streaming and YouTube recordings of important constitutional cases are available, providing the complete context of the proceedings. The Supreme Court also provides easy access to its judgments through Digital SCR (Supreme Court Records), offering over 30,000 old judgments free of charge.
CJI Chandrachud emphasized that efficiency lies not only in outcomes but in processes, which must ensure free and fair hearing. He highlighted two critical areas where digitization and technology can enhance justice delivery: streamlining pre-decision processes and improving access to and engagement with post-decision measures.
Courts worldwide are adopting various technologies to improve their efficiency, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain. The J20 Summit, convened by Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (STF), brings together presidents from the Supreme and Constitutional Courts of nations, along with delegates from the African Union and the European Union. The summit serves as a platform for deliberations on vital issues such as social justice, environmental sustainability, and the utilization of technology to enhance judicial efficacy.
