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The Supreme Court of India has implemented AI technology to translate judicial documents, improve legal research, and automate processes, enhancing accessibility and transparency in the Indian legal system.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court of India has adopted AI technology to translate judicial documents and enhance legal research since February 2023.
- A committee led by a Supreme Court judge oversees the translation of judgments into vernacular languages.
- Eight High Courts have launched e-High Court Reports (e-HCR), with more in progress.
- AI has facilitated the translation of over 36,000 Supreme Court judgments into Hindi and 17,000 into other regional languages.
- No additional funds have been allocated for the translation project, yet significant progress continues in making legal documents accessible.
The Supreme Court of India is making strides in modernizing its operations through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, revealed in a written response to the Lok Sabha on Friday that AI is now being used to translate judicial documents, enhance legal research, and automate various legal processes.
Since February 2023, AI has played a crucial role in transcribing oral arguments for Constitution Bench matters. To facilitate the translation of key judgments from the Supreme Court and High Courts into regional languages, a specialized committee has been established, chaired by a Supreme Court judge. This committee works closely with High Court sub-committees to speed up the translation process.
The AI translation initiative is actively monitored by High Courts, with eight already having launched e-High Court Reports (e-HCR). Other High Courts are in the process of implementing this system. The AI Committees have also directed High Courts to work with State Governments to ensure that all Central and State legislation, rules, and regulations are translated into regional languages and made accessible on State websites.
As of August 5, AI technology has enabled the translation of 36,271 Supreme Court judgments into Hindi and 17,142 judgments into 16 other regional languages. These translations are available on the e-SCR portal, promoting greater transparency and accessibility within the Indian judicial system.
Despite the absence of additional funding for this project, the Supreme Court continues to make significant progress in enhancing the accessibility of legal documents, thereby supporting the principle of “access to justice” as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
