With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence becoming an integral part of our everyday lives, the issue of using AI to tackle pending court cases in India becomes quite pertinent. Recent events in China brought this problem back to the forefront. An AI-based system was allegedly used by the Hangzhou Internet Court to examine evidence in ten different cases involving loans and contracts simultaneously. After reviewing legal pleadings, the system provided its findings which were later revised by a human judge, enabling the court to conclude ten proceedings within just thirty minutes.
A Pressured Judicial System
Indian courts are still facing a severe backlog of pending cases. It has been reported that there are around 4.76 crores of such cases pending in the subordinates judiciary alone, out of which close to 3.59 crores were pending for over a year. Such prolonged delays have serious repercussions for the process of accessing justice in the country.
It should be noted that, although there is increased interest in using AI technology, the Indian Government has explicitly stated that AI will not take the responsibility of issuing judgements. This means that the use of technology will only be aimed at supporting the work of judges and judicial officials.
The Scale of the Problem
The principle that “justice delayed is justice denied” remains especially relevant today. As of January 2026, district and subordinate courts across India had more than 1.10 crore civil cases and 3.65 crore criminal cases awaiting disposal. A significant portion of these matters has been pending for several years. When the backlog in High Courts and the Supreme Court is added, the number of unresolved cases nationwide approaches 5.5 crore.
Technology’s Growing Role in the Courts
Artificial intelligence is already being integrated into several aspects of judicial administration.
Smart Filing Systems: The Supreme Court has introduced AI-assisted filing mechanisms capable of identifying missing documents and procedural defects at the submission stage. Similar systems in Kerala have processed tens of thousands of filings.
Language Translation: The Supreme Court’s translation platform, SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software), has enabled the translation of nearly one lakh judgments into multiple Indian languages, making legal information more accessible to citizens.
Real-Time Transcription: During Constitution Bench proceedings, the court employs TERES (Technology Enabled Resolution and Enhanced System) to generate transcripts of oral arguments. Although human verification remains necessary, the technology has significantly improved record-keeping and efficiency.
Courtroom Support Tools: Several High Courts have either adopted or are testing AI-driven applications that assist in documenting witness testimony, recording cross-examinations, and organizing courtroom proceedings.
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The Dangers Behind the Possibilities
Although there are many positives to artificial intelligence, there are also many negatives as well. Since the artificial intelligence system learns from data, it picks up on the biases that are present in society today. This means that the artificial intelligence system could create even more prejudice in its findings.
There have been many cases of algorithmic discrimination in fields such as the health sector in the US. Given India’s diverse society in terms of social, cultural, and economic conditions, it would not be difficult to imagine the repercussions of any bias that is created.
In light of this fact, many suggest that artificial intelligence should be used as an aid to decision-making rather than as a replacement. It may improve the speed at which the court processes its cases, but the responsibility of justice cannot be handed over to machines, no matter how fast and efficient they are.
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