The Indian judiciary is exploring the establishment of an indigenous artificial intelligence ecosystem to support court processes without replacing human reasoning, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant announced during a lecture at Oxford.
Delivering an address to the Oxford Union and the Oxford Law Society, Chief Justice Surya Kant introduced the concept of “Swadeshi Jurisprudence.” This domestic framework is designed to align judicial technology with India’s unique constitutional values, institutional setups, linguistic diversity, and social realities, rather than relying strictly on imported models or assumptions.
The Chief Justice emphasized that the Supreme Court of India views technology as an instrument to assist, rather than substitute, independent judicial thought. While acknowledging that AI can process extensive volumes of legal text and optimize administrative workflows with precision, he pointed out that machines remain entirely blind to the essential human empathy, ethical discernment, and contextual understanding necessary to interpret the law.
Adaptability Of Young Legal Professionals
Chief Justice Surya Kant highlighted the critical role of young legal professionals in driving this digital transition. He observed that young lawyers, district court judicial officers, government counsel, and corporate legal advisors have shown remarkable adaptability, providing the momentum needed for the judiciary’s ongoing reforms.
Strengthening Global Judicial Ties
He also noted that technology has advanced access to justice beyond initial constitutional expectations by fostering closer communication among international judiciaries, resulting in an increasingly interconnected global judicial community.
The lecture, titled “Constitutional Promise to Digital Reality: Safeguarding Justice in the Age of AI and Technological Advancement,” commenced with welcome remarks from Advocate Tanvi Dubey.
