Supreme Court Justice KV Viswanathan on Thursday highlighted the pitfalls of translation of legal documents and judgments using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
He recalled how use of AI to translate his first judgment to Hindi resulted in the familiar judicial expression 'leave granted' being translated to “Chutti swikriti”, effectively telling the litigant that their leave had been sanctioned.
'Leave granted' when used by the Supreme Court means that a special leave petition before it has been admitted and converted into a full-fledged appeal and the Supreme Court is required to deliver a reasoned judgment. A special leave petition can otherwise be dismissed at the threshold without giving any reasons.
Justice Viswanathan said that after delivering his first judgment as a Supreme Court judge, he was curious to see how it would read in Hindi. The judgment began, as many Supreme Court judgments do, with 'leave granted'.
The translated version, however, read 'chutti swikriti'.
“Meaning your leave is sanctioned,” he quipped.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the Gujarat High Court Arbitration Centre Arbitration Week 2026, when he used the anecdote to highlight both the promise and risks of AI in adjudication and arbitration.
The three-day Arbitration Week brings together judges, lawyers, government representatives, businesses, arbitral institutions and international practitioners under the theme “Three days, three stakeholders, one vision”.
Justice Viswanathan also narrated how Harvey AI had reportedly been asked by an American law firm to predict the questions US Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch might ask at an upcoming hearing of a case. Of the 11 questions generated by AI, Justice Viswanathan said, 10 were eventually asked.
The judge said AI could substantially reduce the time spent on document review, translation, legal research and organisation of voluminous records. Courts and arbitral tribunals could even explore using AI to prepare a statement of undisputed facts in fact-heavy cases, which parties could then verify, he suggested.
However, he cautioned that AI could fabricate legal authorities and propositions and could also pose serious confidentiality risks.
The emerging principle, he said, was that AI could assist an arbitrator or lawyer but responsibility for reasoning, judgment and the eventual award could not be delegated to a machine.
Arbitration can become an elitist club: Justice NV Anjaria
Supreme Court Justice NV Anjaria, who also spoke at the event, struck a more critical note, saying the present arbitration system has, in some respects, moved away from the purpose for which it was conceived.
He said arbitration was originally intended as a dispute resolution process free from the expensive and cumbersome procedures associated with litigation, but problems and “inherent ills” had grown alongside its expansion.
He advocated making arbitration cost-effective, keeping it party-centric rather than arbitrator-centric and ensuring that it did not become an “elitist club of rich litigants”.
Justice Anjaria also emphasised the use of settlement mechanisms during arbitration and called for minimal judicial intervention.
Court remain indispensable: Justice Pancholi VM Pancholi
Justice VM Pancholi said the legitimacy of arbitration depends on striking a balance between speed and fairness, flexibility and due process, party autonomy and independence.
He rejected the suggestion that being arbitration-friendly required courts to completely withdraw from the field.
“The role of the courts is indispensable,” he said.
Justice Pancholi also stressed that arbitrator disclosures were not a mere technical formality but central to maintaining confidence in the impartiality of the process.
Justice PS Narasimha calls for Gujarat Arbitration Council
Justice PS Narasimha, who could not attend the event, sent a written message that was read out by Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal.
Justice Narasimha said too much of the arbitration discourse is centred around commercial disputes “because that is where the money is”.
He argued that arbitration could be even more compelling for ordinary litigants involved in disputes such as partition, injunction and declaration suits.
“I think we have discussed and talked enough. It is now time to act,” his message said.
He described arbitration as continuing to function like an “unorganised sector” and proposed the creation of a Gujarat Arbitration Council with a full-time CEO and directors.
Such a body, he suggested, could maintain information about active arbitrators, their fees and timelines, collect data on pending ad hoc arbitrations and work towards greater transparency and accreditation.
Gujarat Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal bats for institutional arbitration
Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal said Gujarat’s economic growth and its emergence as a major commercial centre make dependable commercial dispute resolution infrastructure particularly important.
She highlighted the proposed international ADR centre at GIFT City and the expansion of the Gujarat High Court Arbitration Centre, including its upcoming purpose-built facility.
The Chief Justice said institutional arbitration offers parties not merely an arbitrator but an organised process supported by professional administration and established procedures aimed at reducing uncertainty and improving predictability.
She also announced that the GHAC Board of Governors had resolved to constitute an arbitration promotion council to provide research, policy input and professional guidance for institutional growth.
Then event was also attended by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi who highlighted the practical impact of arbitration on government contracts and infrastructure projects.
He referred to disputes involving road contracts and said prolonged litigation could leave development works stalled for years, inconveniencing large numbers of people.
Faster resolution through arbitration can not only save government resources but also allow stalled development projects to move forward, he opined.
Justice AY Kogje, President of the Gujarat High Court Arbitration Centre, said the Arbitration Week was aimed at bringing the judiciary, legal profession, government and industry onto a common platform to strengthen institutional arbitration in Gujarat.