Vikram Nath stressed that artificial intelligence must not replace human judgment in courts. Speaking at judicial conference, he urged cautious adoption, highlighting need to balance technological advancement with core human element in judicial decision making processes.
Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath said that while artificial intelligence is set to become a permanent feature of the future, it must not replace the human element that is central to judicial decision-making.
Speaking at the valedictory function of the 22nd Biennial State Level Conference of the Karnataka State Judicial Officers Associations, he noted that judges should recognise AI’s expanding role but adopt it only with caution and clear understanding.
Highlighting the need for a balanced approach to technology in the justice system, he said,
“The question is not whether AI will exist, the question is how we as judges, judicial officers, respond to it,”
Justice Nath stressed that AI should be treated purely as a supportive instrument.
He remarked,
“AI is a tool to assist the judicial process; it is not, and can never become, a substitute for the judicial mind,”
He explained that although AI can help in collecting and organising information, spotting patterns, and presenting data efficiently, deciding disputes is not a mechanical process.
He further highlighted that judicial reasoning is grounded in lived human experience, which he said cannot be matched by any algorithm.
He observed,
“Judging is a human responsibility. It calls for discernment, balance, and conscience. It requires an ability to appreciate not merely what is written on paper, but what lies beneath it in human experience,”
The judge also noted that courts often have to balance “competing hardships” between parties an exercise that cannot be reduced to logic or data processing.
Reaffirming that the judge must remain the core decision-maker in the justice system, he added,
“No algorithm can replace moral judgment, and no automated process can replace the discipline of reason in adjudication,”
At the same time, Justice Nath cautioned judicial officers against adopting AI tools without assessing their reliability and risks. He urged a careful equilibrium between using technology and preventing misuse.
“We must learn to use these tools while remaining alert to situations where such tools may be unsafe,” he said, adding that innovation should be embraced, but not blindly.
Speaking to younger members of the judiciary, he also reflected on the character of judicial authority. While judges wield significant influence over rights, liberty, property, and reputation, he said such power must be exercised with humility. “It is an office of responsibility and trust,” he cautioned, warning against becoming detached from the people the justice system is meant to serve.
In closing, Justice Nath referred to Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If,” drawing a parallel between its message and the qualities required in judicial life such as staying composed under pressure, remaining steadfast without rigidity, and grounding oneself in humility as fundamentally human traits.
ALSO READ: From Supreme Court to NALSA: SC Justice Vikram Nath Appointed NALSA Executive Chairman
He also pointed to his earlier remarks during the inaugural session of Gujarat’s district judiciary’s two-day annual conference, titled “Reshaping Dispensation of Justice-Transcending the Narratives.” There, Justice Nath had said that in a constitutional democracy, the judiciary’s responsibility goes far beyond routine adjudication. He emphasised that India’s justice delivery system must keep evolving to respond to changing societal needs, and also highlighted technology’s growing role in improving access, efficiency, and responsiveness.
“The justice delivery system must continuously evolve, responding to changing societal needs, technological advancements, and growing expectations of citizens,” he had said, adding that the judiciary safeguards rights, upholds the rule of law, and strengthens public confidence in governance.
He further noted that reforms should build on core principles rather than abandon them. “To reshape the dispensation of justice is not to depart from our foundational principles, but to strengthen them by adapting to contemporary realities,” he had observed.
Justice Aravind Kumar was present at the event as well.
FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE