Training for judges must go beyond basic digital literacy, include AI knowledge: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday opined that judicial training for judges must evolve alongside technology and judicial academies must explore training beyond basic digitial literacy. .Judicial academies, he said, must equip individuals with a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for natural justice.“Our judicial academies, therefore, must move beyond basic digital literacy. They must encourage a deeper understanding of how artificial intelligence systems operate and how they intersect with longstanding principles such as natural justice,” said CJI Kant. .He was delivering the keynote address at the Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education at Chintan Bhawan in Sikkim's Gangtok.CJI Kant emphasised that judicial education must keep pace with rapid technological changes while also remaining grounded in constitutional values.The conclave, organised by the High Court of Sikkim and the Sikkim Judicial Academy, brought together judges, legal experts and policymakers to deliberate on the digital transformation of courts..On judiciary’s journey from physical barriers to digital access, CJI Kant underscored how technology has transformed the experience of litigants.“In the past, distance for a litigant was not measured in kilometres but in days of travel, difficult terrain and uncertainty. Today, that reality is changing not only because of infrastructure but also because technology is reshaping access. The digital highway now connects citizens directly to various judicial fora,” he noted..He observed that the e-courts project has significantly altered how citizens engage with the justice system. He said that it has replaced cumbersome processes with digital interfaces and reduced dependence on paper-based systems.On the growing role of AI, CJI Kant highlighted tools such as Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS) and Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court's Efficiency (SUPACE), which assist in translation and legal research thereby, easing the workload on judges and enabling deeper engagement with complex legal questions.“These innovations act as force multipliers, aiding in the swift translation of judgments and providing rapid comprehensive resources to the Bench,” he said..At the same time, CJI Kant also said that the adoption of AI must be accompanied by careful scrutiny and informed judicial control.“Education must strengthen our ability to identify bias within systems driven by artificial intelligence, and to safeguard the integrity of the adjudicatory process against unintended distortion,” he said..Beyond AI, CJI Kant outlined structural reforms to strengthen digital infrastructure, including the need for greater standardisation across courts through the National Core Case Information Systems (NCCIS), and the expansion of e-Sewa Kendras into full-fledged digital support hubs..Looking ahead, he said technology should complement judicial reasoning, stressing that the next generation of judges must be trained to balance innovation with constitutional values.“We are, in fact, preparing a generation of jurists who see technology as an aid to their commitment to fairness, not a replacement for it,” said CJI Kant..On the need to balance technological advancement with foundational legal principles, CJII Surya Kant held that the judiciary’s transition into the digital era must remain rooted in its core values. “In doing so, we ensure that our movement into the digital realm remains anchored in careful scholarship and the enduring principles that guide our justice system,” he said..[Read Live Coverage]