Tech Can Aid Justice, But Not Replace Human Judgment: CJI Gavai

Technology should support, not substitute, the human role in courts, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said at Cambridge University.

He stressed that human qualities like discretion, empathy, and interpretation remain essential to delivering justice.

Addressing the theme “Role of Technology to Improve Access to Justice,” he said automation must assist judicial functions, not override them.

He also raised concerns around privacy and cybersecurity, noting that digital systems dealing with sensitive legal data must be carefully protected.

Gavai warned that technology carries existing social biases and could deepen inequality if not carefully designed. Ensuring fairness in justice systems means first addressing the risks built into digital tools.

He said that in a country as large and diverse as India, technology is already helping bridge access gaps. Video conferencing has allowed lawyers to appear before the Supreme Court from remote locations.

He also highlighted tools like SUVAS, which translates judgments into local languages, the e-Courts project that lets people track case updates online, and the National Judicial Data Grid, which provides real-time data on case backlogs across the country.