Supreme Court of India Drafts AI Use Regulations

The Supreme Court of India released the draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Courts, 2026, to govern the adoption of AI across high courts, tribunals, and statutory commissions. The framework establishes a principle of human primacy, which mandates that AI operate only in an assistive capacity and strictly prohibits its use for independently adjudicating cases, passing sentences, or conducting risk-scoring for bail and recidivism.

Under the proposed rules, AI is permitted for administrative tasks, case management, legal research, transcription, and translation, provided there is human supervision. The draft bans opaque or unexplainable AI systems and prohibits the surveillance of litigants and judicial officers. Lawyers using AI for pleadings must disclose the assistance and remain fully responsible for any inaccuracies or fabricated content.

To oversee implementation, the court proposes a three-tier oversight structure featuring a permanent apex body at the Supreme Court and AI committees in every High Court. This apex body will include a Supreme Court judge, a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and a professor from the National Judicial Academy Bhopal. Saakar Yadav, founder of Lexlegis AI, welcomed the regulations, noting that AI should enhance efficiency without replacing professional judgment. Public feedback on the draft is invited until June 20, 2026.