The government's "Digital Justice" initiative, featuring AI and blockchain.

On September 17, 2025, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) unveiled a detailed policy brief titled Digital Transformation of Justice, underscoring the government’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) within India’s judiciary and law enforcement. The release highlights how Phase III of the e-Courts project is actively deploying AI tools such as optical character recognition (OCR), natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning for case management, multilingual translation, digital filing, chatbots for litigant support, and predictive analytics.

The government also pointed to the parallel adoption of AI in law enforcement, particularly in predictive policing and forensic analysis. Importantly, the release confirmed that dedicated funds are being allocated for AI and blockchain projects in high courts, cementing the institutional commitment to technological modernization.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer an experiment in India’s justice system—it is becoming part of daily judicial functioning,” the PIB statement observed.

How AI is Transforming Court Functioning

The e-Courts Phase III initiative, launched in 2022, has steadily expanded its scope. The PIB brief identifies several AI-driven innovations now entering judicial workflow:

• Smart Case Management: AI-enabled dashboards are helping judges track pending cases, allocate dates, and flag urgent matters.

• Digital Filing & OCR: Automated document scanning and text recognition make old case records searchable and digitally retrievable.

• Multilingual NLP: Translation engines are reducing language barriers, enabling filings and orders to be processed across Indian languages.

• Litigant-Facing Chatbots: Interactive assistants are guiding citizens on case status, filing procedures, and basic legal queries.

• Predictive Analytics: Pilot projects are using historical data to assess likely case durations and outcomes, aiding judicial planning.

Together, these measures aim to chip away at India’s endemic backlog, where over 40 million cases remain pending across courts.

AI in Policing and Forensics

Beyond the judiciary, law enforcement agencies are experimenting with AI in two high-stakes domains:

• Predictive Policing: Algorithms identify potential hotspots of crime based on historical trends, enabling targeted deployment of police resources.

• Forensic Support: AI-assisted tools are speeding up fingerprint, voice, and digital evidence analysis, crucial in complex investigations.

The government emphasized that these deployments are still in their early stages but signal a shift towards data-driven policing and investigation.

The Case for AI and Blockchain Funding

A significant feature of the announcement was the explicit budgetary backing for AI and blockchain integration in high courts. Blockchain, with its tamper-proof ledger capabilities, is being piloted for secure storage of court records and chain-of-custody management in criminal trials.

By earmarking funds, the government seeks to move from pilot experiments to system-wide rollouts, ensuring that courts across states—not just the Supreme Court and select high courts—benefit from cutting-edge digital tools.

Ethical and Legal Safeguards Remain Central

While the PIB note was optimistic, it also acknowledged the risks of unchecked AI adoption. Issues of algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, and over-reliance on predictive tools loom large in a justice system built on constitutional guarantees of fairness and due process.

Experts warn that predictive policing, in particular, may replicate social biases embedded in historical data, disproportionately targeting vulnerable communities. Similarly, AI-based translation and chatbots, if inaccurate, could mislead litigants and impact access to justice.

The government indicated that ethical AI frameworks and oversight committees are being developed to ensure that digital transformation enhances, rather than undermines, judicial integrity.

Positioning India in the Global Legal Tech Landscape

Globally, jurisdictions such as the European Union and the United States are grappling with similar questions around AI in justice. India’s adoption is notable for its scale and ambition:

• Few jurisdictions have attempted nationwide rollout of AI-enabled judicial tools.

• By embedding AI within the e-Courts framework, India is attempting systemic reform rather than piecemeal adoption.

• Linking AI with blockchain positions India at the cutting edge of secure judicial recordkeeping.

If successful, India could become a model for large, multilingual democracies struggling with judicial backlogs.

Conclusion: Digital Transformation with Caution

The PIB’s “Digital Transformation of Justice” brief makes one thing clear: AI is no longer a future prospect but a present reality in India’s courts and police stations. By marrying case management, multilingual translation, and predictive analytics, the judiciary hopes to bridge efficiency gaps that have long plagued the system.

Yet the path forward requires careful balancing—leveraging technology without compromising on fundamental rights. Institutional safeguards, judicial oversight, and public transparency will determine whether this digital leap strengthens trust in justice or raises new concerns.

For now, the government’s message is unequivocal: artificial intelligence is central to the future of Indian justice, and the state is willing to fund and formalize its adoption.