Siddaramaiah urged creation of regional bench of Supreme Court of India in South India to improve access. He stressed judicial authority must remain paramount amid growing integration of artificial intelligence in courts.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasised the need to strengthen access to the country’s highest court, saying that setting up a Supreme Court bench in South India would significantly help in delivering justice.
Speaking at the 22nd Biennial State Level Conference of Judicial Officers on the theme “Reimagining the Judiciary in the era of Artificial Intelligence,” he also stressed that the authority of judges must remain supreme even as legal systems adopt new technologies.
Siddaramaiah said.
“Pendency of cases continues to be a serious concern that affects the timely delivery of justice. While technology can provide tools to address this, it must be complemented by systemic reforms through strengthening infrastructure, increasing judicial capacity, and modernising court processes,”
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He added,
“There is also a strong and compelling need to improve accessibility to the highest court of the land. The establishment of a Supreme Court bench in South India would go a long way in ensuring justice,”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah further warned against letting technology dilute constitutional values, stating that courts must avoid becoming overly dependent on automated systems.
The chief minister said,
“Even as we explore these new frontiers, we must remain mindful of the enduring challenges facing our judiciary,”
He said,
“Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a transformative force that challenges how we interpret evidence, how we understand facts, and how decisions are arrived at. It offers immense promise, aiding faster legal research, improved case management, and the possibility of reducing pendency through intelligent systems,”
He added,
“Yet, it also raises profound concerns. Algorithmic bias can undermine the guarantee of equality before law. Opaque systems may weaken the doctrine of reasoned decisions, which lies at the heart of our judicial process,”
He said safeguards must protect judicial independence, not only from external interference but also from subtle forms of technological influence.
The chief minister also pointed to the growing legal complications around AI-generated evidence, including issues such as deepfakes, synthetic data, and machine-produced content. He said these developments require courts to revisit legal principles on evidence and proof.
He expressed confidence that the judiciary would help shape how AI is regulated in India, noting constitutional principles that should guide its use.
He added,
“The judiciary, therefore, is not only a user of technology but also the ethical compass that will guide its deployment in society,”
Siddaramaiah also highlighted potential benefits of technology, noting that AI-assisted research could expand access to legal precedents and reduce gaps in legal knowledge.
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Siddaramaiah further said blockchain could strengthen the security of judicial records by making them tamper-proof, and that intelligent case management systems may help reduce delays. However, he cautioned that improvements should not undermine fairness.
He remarked,
“However, these innovations must be adopted with care, ensuring that efficiency does not come at the cost of fairness.”
He said the key challenge is ensuring that AI development aligns with equality and social justice, warning that poorly designed AI may reproduce or intensify existing inequalities.
No algorithm can replace the human capacity for empathy, the wisdom that comes from lived experience, or the moral reasoning that defines judicial decision-making, he said, “Technology can assist, but it cannot replace the human conscience that lies at the heart of justice.”
The event was attended by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Supreme Court judges B. V. Nagarathna and Aravind Kumar, as well as Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka Vibhu Bakhru, among others.
Siddaramaiah said the Government of Karnataka remains committed to improving judicial infrastructure, advancing digital transformation, and building an environment where innovation and justice progress together.
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