AI reaches Supreme Court: Artificial Intelligence system to handle case listing and bench allocation, report says

Supreme Court of India

• Supreme Court to use AI for case listing and bench allocation
• Move aims to reduce human involvement and fix registry issues
• Registry staff reassigned after administrative review

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The Supreme Court of India is preparing to introduce an Artificial Intelligence-powered system to manage case listings and allocate matters to benches, a step that could alter how administrative work is handled within the court. The move is expected to reduce the level of human involvement in these processes, according to a report by Bar and Bench.

The initiative has been approved by Surya Kant, who currently heads the court. The development comes shortly after AI Impact Summit was held in Delhi.

At present, the responsibility for assigning cases to benches rests with the Chief Justice in the role of the master of the roster. The position has often drawn attention because of the authority it carries in determining which bench hears specific matters.

The proposed technological shift follows an internal review that highlighted structural problems in the court’s registry. The inquiry pointed to two major systemic issues. Officials had continued in the same positions for extended periods and outdated technological systems had contributed to administrative lapses, including irregular and improper case allocation.

In response, the registry has witnessed a significant number of internal transfers aimed at addressing long standing incumbency and inefficiencies. Officials indicated that another round of transfers could take place before the end of the month.

The issue surfaced during proceedings before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant along with Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi. The bench was hearing a petition filed by Irfan Solanki, who challenged the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, arguing that it conflicted with Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

During the hearing, the Government of Uttar Pradesh told the court that a similar challenge had already been dismissed earlier in the case of Md. Anas Chaudhary v. State of Uttar Pradesh. That matter had been decided on December 12, 2022 by a three judge bench consisting of former Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, P. S. Narasimha and Dipankar Datta.

Despite the earlier ruling, a similar plea later appeared before another bench. Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed strong displeasure over the lapse. Senior Advocate Shoeb Alam requested permission to withdraw the petition, but the court directed that the matter would continue and proceed to a logical conclusion.

The Chief Justice also indicated that a more detailed administrative investigation would be carried out.