Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud’s address at the J20 summit emphasized the significant role of technology in transforming Indian courts into democratic spaces of discourse. The integration of digital tools has enhanced accessibility, transparency, and accountability in the judicial process.
In his address at the J20 summit in Brazil, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud emphasized the transformative impact of technology on the Indian court system. He highlighted the shift from traditional physical spaces to more democratic and transparent arenas of discourse.
The J20 Summit, hosted by Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (STF), convened leaders from the Supreme and Constitutional Courts of G20 nations to discuss pressing issues such as social justice, environmental sustainability, and the integration of technology for improved judicial efficiency.
The CJI acknowledged the accountability of the judiciary towards the people and stressed the importance of making the decision-making process transparent and understandable to all, regardless of legal expertise.
CJI Chandrachud emphasized that the onset of COVID-19 forced significant transformations within our court systems practically overnight.
“The courts evolved beyond being merely opaque physical structures,” remarked the CJI.
CJI Chandrachud underscored the need to go beyond the efficiency of individual judges and focus on holistic judicial processes. He emphasized that judicial efficiency should ensure a free and fair hearing, with transparency in decision-making.
“When discussing judicial efficiency, it’s crucial to consider more than just the judge’s performance; we need to contemplate the entire judicial process. Efficiency isn’t solely about the end result but also about the fairness and openness of the procedures, ensuring a free and fair hearing,” he emphasized.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) also highlighted the importance of judicial accountability to the public, especially concerning transparency in decision-making.
“As judges, we aren’t above the requirement of being accountable. We serve as facilitators of justice and champions of rights within society. Therefore, both the decision-making process and the decision itself must be transparent and comprehensible to all, regardless of their legal knowledge. It should pave a path broad enough for everyone to understand and participate,” he emphasized.
CJI Chandrachud highlighted the significant strides made by the Supreme Court of India in leveraging technology to enhance accessibility and efficiency. Virtual courtrooms have enabled individuals with physical impairments, pregnant women, and elderly citizens to participate in legal proceedings remotely. Over 750,000 cases have been heard via video conference, while important constitutional cases are live-streamed on the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel, ensuring broad citizen engagement.
“More than 750,000 cases have been conducted via video conference. Additionally, significant constitutional cases in the Supreme Court are streamed live on its YouTube channel, allowing citizens to witness constitutional deliberations from the comfort of their homes,” the CJI noted.
Regarding the technological advancements embraced by the Supreme Court of India, the Chief Justice highlighted that individuals with physical disabilities, pregnant women, and elderly citizens now have the option to attend court proceedings virtually.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of technology, CJI Chandrachud cautioned against the misuse of AI tools and the perpetuation of pre-existing inequalities. He emphasized the need to address issues such as AI profiling, algorithmic bias, misinformation, and the opacity of black box models in AI. The CJI called for sustained deliberative efforts to mitigate these dangers and ensure the responsible use of technology in the legal domain.
In this context, the Chief Justice also drew attention to the potential misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
“While technology offers advancements, it’s not a cure-all for social inequalities. Complex issues such as AI profiling, resulting stigmatization, algorithmic biases, misinformation, exposure of sensitive data, and the opacity of black box models in AI demand sustained deliberation and engagement to mitigate their risks,” remarked the CJI.
Additionally, CJI Chandrachud praised legal journalists in India for their role in accurately reporting court news, thereby countering misinformation and misunderstanding of legal proceedings.
“In India, judges often engage with the legal fraternity, playing devil’s advocate to elicit the best responses. Unfortunately, these interactions are sometimes misconstrued as the bench’s opinion, leading to misleading clips circulating online. Fortunately, our country benefits from a robust network of legal journalists who provide live reports of proceedings, helping to dispel misinformation,” he noted.
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CJI Chandrachud commended the role of legal journalists in India for their vital contribution in dispelling misinformation and misunderstanding of legal proceedings. He acknowledged their efforts in accurately reporting court news and countering the circulation of misleading clips from proceedings.
The engagement between judges and the legal bar was also highlighted as a means to extract the best responses, but the CJI emphasized the importance of differentiating between the personal opinions of judges and the official stance of the bench.
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