ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ENHANCING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN INDIA - A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

While access to justice is a fundamental principle of democratic societies, a vast majority of people, particularly in India, face obstacles because of systemic delays, financial burdens, and a lack of infrastructure. Over the past few years, however, AI has emerged as a technology that has the potential to close these gaps. This paper explores the impact of AI technology on access to justice in India, focusing on its applications on legal research, case management, virtual courts, and analytics. It is AI-powered tools that have served to enhance efficiency in the administration of justice and the involvement of citizens as noted in the Supreme Courts’ SUPACE system and the use of AI in many High Courts. At the same time, the paper discusses AI’s integration into the legal framework of India regarding ethics, legal and data issues, such as biases in algorithms, lack of responsibility, data and privacy infringements. Using a doctrinal and case study approach, it posits that the presence of artificial intelligence in the legal framework may encourage change, but such change is that AI technology must comply with strict human-rights focused policies and regulatory frameworks. The paper suggests AI should promote access to justice, not restrict it, and advocates for modifying policies, judicial education, and technological advancement.