In a significant step toward modernising the judicial system, the Supreme Court of India is considering the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manage case listing and bench allocation. The proposal, reportedly initiated under the leadership of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, aims to improve transparency, efficiency, and consistency in the court’s administrative functioning.
At present, the Chief Justice holds the authority to decide which cases are assigned to which bench - a responsibility commonly known as the “master of the roster.”
The move toward technological reform gained attention during the hearing of a petition challenging provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986. The plea argued that certain provisions of the law conflicted with Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The matter was heard by a bench led by CJI Surya Kant along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi.
During the proceedings, the Government of Uttar Pradesh informed the Court that an identical challenge to the same law had already been dismissed by a three-judge bench in December 2022. Despite that earlier ruling, a similar petition appeared before another bench, raising concerns about irregularities in case listing.
The development prompted the Chief Justice to question how a matter that had already been adjudicated came to be listed again.
Although Senior Advocate Shoeb Alam requested permission to withdraw the petition, the bench declined to close the matter immediately.
“The case will remain pending until it reaches its logical conclusion,” the bench indicated during the hearing.
Following the incident, the Court ordered a deeper administrative review of the registry’s functioning. Reports from the internal review suggested that some officials had remained posted in the same roles for extended periods and that outdated technological systems were still being used, factors believed to have contributed to procedural lapses.
Speaking about the proposed reforms, CJI Surya Kant emphasised that Artificial Intelligence would be used carefully to strengthen the justice delivery system.
“We’re making the optimistic, positive, and constructive use of AI… We’ll use AI to its maximum optimal potential for speedy justice, affordable justice, and true justice,” he said.
The Court has also been studying technological initiatives in various High Courts. It recently appreciated the digital Case Management System developed by the Kerala High Court, which enables automated case workflows, e-filing, and paperless court functioning.
Following the concerns raised during the hearing, the Supreme Court directed an administrative examination into the functioning of the registry and initiated steps toward introducing an AI-based system for case listing and bench allocation.
The petition before the bench was directed to remain pending until further proceedings.
