Chief Justice of India Surya Kant praised young lawyers, judicial officers, and legal professionals for driving the judiciary’s technological transformation. Speaking at the Oxford Union, he said their adaptability and willingness to embrace innovation have been instrumental in advancing digital reforms across India’s justice delivery system.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has underscored the pivotal role being played by young lawyers, judicial officers, and legal professionals in accelerating the Indian judiciary’s transition towards a technology-driven future. Speaking at the prestigious Oxford Union during a lecture titled “Constitutional Promise to Digital Reality: Safeguarding Justice in the Age of AI and Technological Advancement,” the Chief Justice highlighted how the younger generation within the legal fraternity has emerged as a key force behind the successful adoption of technological reforms across the justice delivery system.
The lecture formed part of CJI Surya Kant’s engagements in the United Kingdom, where he addressed legal scholars, practitioners, students, and policymakers on the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in the administration of justice. His remarks came amid the Indian judiciary’s ongoing efforts to integrate digital tools, virtual court systems, AI-assisted research mechanisms, and technology-enabled case management processes to improve efficiency and access to justice.
Reflecting on the adaptability of legal professionals in India, the Chief Justice noted that young members of the legal ecosystem have embraced technological advancements with remarkable enthusiasm. He observed that this openness to innovation extends across different segments of the profession, including judicial officers at the district level, government lawyers, and legal advisers working in the corporate sector.
He said,
“The youth in law, I am using the word, is so adaptive in India, whether the district court judicial officer, whether the government lawyer, and even those who are assisting the corporate entities as legal advisors,”
Emphasising the contribution of these professionals to judicial modernisation, CJI Kant stated that their willingness to quickly understand and adopt new technological tools has significantly encouraged reform initiatives within the judiciary.
The CJI said,
“All these young brains are so adaptive, so quick in adopting it, that they have been a really encouraging source for the Indian judiciary to bring all these reformative changes,”
While acknowledging the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, the Chief Justice cautioned against viewing technology as a replacement for human decision-making. He stressed that although AI can process vast quantities of legal information with extraordinary speed and efficiency, it lacks the essential human qualities that form the foundation of justice.
Highlighting the limitations of machine-driven decision-making, CJI Kant explained that legal adjudication involves far more than analysing data and identifying patterns. According to him, the administration of justice requires empathy, moral judgment, and an understanding of human circumstances—qualities that remain beyond the reach of artificial intelligence.
The CJI said,
“It can map procedural trends and eliminate administrative checkpoints with clinical precision, yet it remains entirely blind to the qualities that animate the soul of the law — empathy, ethical discernment and deep contextual understanding,”
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His remarks are consistent with the Supreme Court’s broader approach towards technological integration, where AI and digital systems are viewed as tools designed to assist judges and court staff rather than substitute independent judicial reasoning. The Indian judiciary has repeatedly emphasised that technology should enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and improve access to justice while preserving the human element that lies at the heart of constitutional adjudication.
The event commenced with welcome remarks delivered by Advocate Tanvi Dubey, following which the Chief Justice addressed the audience on the intersection of constitutional values, technological advancement, and the future of justice systems in the digital age.
Through his address, CJI Surya Kant reinforced the message that while technology will continue to reshape legal institutions, the future of justice ultimately depends on human judgment, constitutional values, and a new generation of legal professionals capable of responsibly navigating the evolving digital landscape.
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