The Supreme Court is already testing these waters. Justice Manmohan revealed that the apex court has begun piloting an AI-driven tool known as SU-PACE. Acting as a "digital research assistant," this tool is designed to read case files, extract key issues, and flag relevant legal precedents.

"It prepares a summary of the readings, the issues, and calls out the law… It will not give a judgment, but it highlights what is relevant for the judge to consider," he detailed, noting that this significantly reduces the clerical burden on judges navigating voluminous files.

The Human Element Remains Crucial

Despite his optimism, Justice Manmohan cautioned that the future of law is "hybrid." He warned of the known pitfalls of AI, including "hallucinations" (where AI invents non-existent case laws), algorithmic bias, and privacy concerns. These issues must be addressed before any large-scale deployment.

"The ultimate character of justice is not the algorithm, but the integrity, independence, and intellect of the human judge," he asserted.

Voices of Caution

The summit also featured words of warning from other legal veterans. Dr. Lalit Bhasin, President of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF), expressed concern over the legal profession's growing over-reliance on technology. Recounting an experience where young lawyers submitted identical, AI-generated drafts, he warned that the profession risks becoming "slaves to technology" with minimal application of mind.

Dr. Bhasin further argued that while tools are helpful, they cannot fix structural issues like outdated or ill-drafted laws, which contribute heavily to the backlog. "Use it as a tool, but don’t become a slave to it... it can never be a substitute for the human brain," he concluded.