Ahead of India AI Impact Summit, experts discuss safeguards for AI in Indian courts

New Delhi, 13 January 2026: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with DAKSH and Digital Futures Lab (DFL), convened a Pre-Summit Event ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to examine the responsible use of artificial intelligence by the Indian judiciary. Held on 13th January in Bengaluru, the dialogue brought together representatives from the judiciary, state government, legal practitioners, academia, civil society and legal-technology experts to deliberate on the increasing use of AI tools in courts, as well as fundamental issues related to data governance and localisation, institutional and rights-based considerations associated with their adoption.

The event formed part of a series of thematic engagements in the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which will be held from 16-20 February in New Delhi. The Summit marks the first time a Global South country is hosting a global AI summit. These thematic engagements aim to examine sector-specific considerations for responsible AI adoption.

Highlighting the critical role of artificial intelligence technology in shaping justice dispensation going forward, Hon'ble Mr. Justice B M Shyam Prasad, High Court of Karnataka and Chairperson, Computers and Technology Committee of the High Court noted, "The use of artificial intelligence in Courts has become an imperative but there are challenges in its implementation. The challenges not only stem from the need for the human oversight to ensure that the core institutional values are not undermined but also in putting in place the required infrastructure."

Sh. Bhoobalan T, CEO, Centre for e-Governance, Government of Karnataka, emphasised the importance of strengthening governance frameworks as AI adoption advances across public institutions. "As India advances its approach to artificial intelligence, the focus is not only on innovation but also on ensuring that emerging technologies are deployed responsibly in public institutions. As AI tools are explored within the justice system, strong governance frameworks are essential to ensure transparency, accountability and safeguards that are consistent with constitutional values and reinforce public trust,"

Reflecting on the broader development context, Mr. Amit Kumar, Head Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, UNDP India, said, "For people seeking justice, technology should make systems more accessible, not more distant. Artificial intelligence can support courts to work faster and more effectively, but only if it is used with care, transparency and respect for rights. This study helps place people at the centre of AI adoption in the judiciary, ensuring that innovation strengthens access to justice while upholding constitutional values."

Discussions during the dialogue centred on findings from the study 'AI for Justice: Ethical, Fair and Robust Adoption in India's Courts', which examines how AI tools are currently being introduced in courts across India. The study, undertaken by UNDP and partners Daksh & DFL, finds that adoption has largely occurred through fragmented and informal pathways, including relationship-based engagement with vendors, extended pilot deployments without formal procurement, and informal or unauthorised use of AI tools by judicial officers and court staff. Participants noted that while such experimentation reflects attempts to improve efficiency, it also makes AI use difficult to monitor and limits the application of consistent institutional safeguards.

Leah Verghese, Research Manager, DAKSH, emphasized that "Indian courts can no longer ignore AI. However, given the nature of AI, it has the potential to improve the delivery of justice and deepen existing barriers to accessing it. Today's event gave us an opportunity to brainstorm about what a structured AI governance framework for India's judiciary would look like, to ensure that efficiency gains do not come at the cost of fairness, privacy, or judicial independence."

Discussions during the roundtable highlighted several challenges identified in the study, including gaps in institutional readiness, uneven levels of digitisation and data quality across courts, limited transparency in vendor selection and validation practices, and the lack of structured oversight once AI tools are deployed. The role of lawyers and judicial staff in ensuring effective uptake of AI was also highlighted.

Participants noted that fragmented approaches to AI adoption can weaken procedural and ethical safeguards, raising concerns related to fundamental rights such as due process, privacy, equality before the law and the right to a fair trial. Dona Mathew, Researcher, Digital Future Labs, noted that "As Indian courts adopt AI, safeguards that enable safe, trustworthy AI usage to prevent rights violations and secure access to justice are essential. We look forward to this roundtable to build on the Supreme Court's white paper and responsible AI practices for ethical judicial AI development and implementation."

The dialogue also examined the study's proposed risk- and rights-based framework for AI adoption, which moves beyond a procurement-only approach to embed safeguards across the adoption, transition and procurement phases. Participants emphasised the need for institutional capacity-building, lifecycle governance, and clear mechanisms for accountability, transparency and human oversight to support the responsible use of AI in judicial functions.

Insights from the Pre-Summit Dialogue will inform continued engagement and knowledge-building in the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, helping shape approaches that balance innovation with rights and institutional safeguards.

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About UNDP India:

UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. In India, we work with the Government of India on localizing and accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, climate action, energy and environment and resilience and health system strengthening across all states and union territories.