New Delhi — In a significant observation regarding the future of the Indian judiciary, Supreme Court Justice Manmohan has stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds the potential to resolve over 60 percent of the country’s pending litigation. Speaking at the India Law, AI and Tech Summit 2025 in New Delhi this Saturday, the Justice emphasized that technology could be a transformative force if deployed to handle routine, small-ticket offenses.
Targeting "Small-Ticket" Cases
Justice Manmohan noted that a vast majority of the Indian caseload consists of minor, repetitive disputes that do not necessarily require deep judicial interpretation. He identified specific categories—such as traffic challans and check-bouncing cases—as ideal candidates for AI-enabled resolution.
"Small ticket offenses… traffic challenges, check bouncing cases. They could be decided by AI because these are matters of routine and can be easily dealt with," he explained.By shifting these cases to automated systems, he argued, the judiciary could free up significant infrastructure and human resources to focus on the "core 40 percent" of litigation that requires complex reasoning and constitutional interpretation.
Clustering for Efficiency
Beyond individual case disposal, Justice Manmohan highlighted AI's ability to "cluster" thousands of similar matters. This feature is particularly useful for mass filings like land acquisition disputes, where technology could group cases together, enabling courts to dispose of entire blocks of litigation through a single, decisive ruling.
The "SU-PACE" Pilot
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.