AI use by the judiciary: What SC's proposed regulations allow, what is barred, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court released the draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Courts, 2026.
• The regulations aim to establish a governance framework for AI use in the judiciary.
• They prescribe general principles for AI deployment and an institutional framework for its oversight.
• The draft seeks comments and suggestions from stakeholders and the public by July 15.

Detailed Insights:

• The draft regulations are intended to optimize court administration by regulating AI use in court processes.
• Implementation is not automatic; the regulations will come into force for the Supreme Court and High Courts on separate notified dates.
• AI use is explicitly permitted for administrative and assistive functions such as case management, transcription, and legal research.
• Prohibited uses include 'risk scoring', predicting recidivism, evaluating bail eligibility, and determining witness credibility.
• Algorithmic decision-making alone cannot determine judicial outcomes; human judicial authority remains determinative in all adjudicative decisions.
• Litigants must be informed if an AI tool materially assists in any aspect of their case management or judicial administration.
• An Apex Body at the Supreme Court, comprising judges, MeitY officials, and experts, will lead the institutional architecture and set mandatory standards.
• The Centre of Research and Excellence on Artificial Intelligence (CORE-AI) will evaluate tools and track developments to support the Apex Body.
• Private companies can be involved with written approval, subject to strict contract terms regarding data ownership and prohibition on re-training models with court data without consent.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
• Algorithmic Decision-Making: Decisions made by computer algorithms based on predefined rules and data.
• Recidivism: The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.