Supreme Court of India CJI Surya Kant cautioned AoRs against outsourcing legal work to AI. He stressed ethical responsibility, noting only designated advocates may file, urging careful scrutiny of every brief before submission.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stressed the ethical responsibilities of the legal profession, and cautioned newly qualified advocates-on-record (AoRs) against outsourcing legal work to artificial intelligence (AI) or other outside parties.
Referring to the framework established by the Supreme Court under Article 145 of the Constitution, the CJI noted that only advocates designated as advocate-on-record are permitted to plead for a party before the apex court. He also pointed out that the top court conducts a test/examination of lawyers prior to designating them as AoRs.
Addressing the AoRs during their induction ceremony, the Chief Justice said they are not merely members of the bar, but also “Responsible officers of the court on whose diligence the judiciary relies heavily”. He added that the trust placed in them forms the basis on which they must build their professional standing and reputation.
Urging that all legal drafting be undertaken personally by AoRs, the CJI warned them against delegating drafting work to AI or other external third parties.
”Do not treat filing as a routine exercise. Read every brief carefully,” the CJI said, adding that each petition bearing an AoR’s name represents their own professional judgement and integrity.
He further described the AoR role as a significant milestone of life involving primary responsibility, sitting between litigants and the Supreme Court.
ALSO READ: Justice Surya Kant: “Indian Courts Don’t Interpret Law as a Cold Command”
To maintain high standards of legal practice, CJI Kant highlighted several requirements: that advocates must ensure pleadings are properly drafted, facts are carefully verified, and legal grounds are sound. He also warned against filing matters purely on instructions from other counsel without conducting independent due diligence.
He concluded by emphasizing that AoRs should base their practice on core values such as honesty, thorough preparation, and deep respect for the judicial institution, along with punctuality and clarity in their submissions to effectively assist the court.
He added that while seniority is determined by time, professional credibility must be established from the very first day.
FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE