Institute of Legal and Management Studies

Technology may be a powerful ally, but justice will always remain a profoundly human enterprise, Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant said, cautioning that while artificial intelligence can support legal processes, it can never substitute the human element of justice.

Delivering the keynote address at the 29th National Law Conference organised by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in Kandy, Justice Surya Kant said that as courts and lawyers increasingly rely on artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital systems, they must remember that “the essence of our calling lies not in data or algorithms, but in conscience and compassion.”

“Artificial intelligence may assist in researching authorities, generating drafts, or highlighting inconsistencies, but it cannot perceive the tremor in a witness's voice, the anguish behind a petition, or the moral weight of a decision,” he said.

"The judge's discernment, the advocate's reasoning, the litigant's dignity, and the empathy that animates every fair trial — these are the living fibres of justice that no machine can replicate," he said.

The Supreme Court judge underlined that the integration of technology in the legal profession should enhance human capacity rather than displace it. “We are not replacing the lawyer or the judge; we are simply augmenting their reach and refining their capacity to serve,” he said. "Let technology be the guide, and the human govern," he emphasised.

Justice Surya Kant was addressing an audience that included Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Chief Justice Padman Surasena, and Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, along with judges, lawyers, and academics from across South Asia. The theme of the conference was “Technology in the Aid of the Legal Profession — A Global Perspective.”

He said the legal profession worldwide is undergoing a “metamorphosis,” where automation, digital case management, and AI-powered analytics are reshaping the way courts function and lawyers work. “From the automation of filings to the use of artificial intelligence in research, technology today permeates every layer of legal functioning. Yet this change is not about replacing human judgment — it is about amplifying its reach, precision, and purpose,” he said.

India's Digital Transformation In Courts

Citing India's experience in judicial digitisation, Justice Surya Kant said that initiatives like virtual hearings, e-filing systems, and online dispute resolution platforms have redefined accessibility to justice. “Our courts have introduced digital systems that extend the reach of justice far beyond traditional boundaries. Access to courts is no longer confined by geography or circumstance,” he observed.

He also referred to the live streaming of Supreme Court and High Court proceedings, which has opened the doors of justice to public view and strengthened judicial accountability. The e-Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) portal, which provides free access to judgments in 13 Indian languages, and the introduction of AI-assisted transcription and translation tools, he said, have made India's judiciary “more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric.”

'Data May Inform, But Must Never Dictate'

Justice Surya Kant cautioned against over-reliance on technology in matters of justice. “While data may inform decisions, it must never dictate them,” he said, adding that no innovation can earn legitimacy without public trust. AI tools, he warned, were prone to inaccuracy and bias, and human oversight remained “non-negotiable.”

He pointed out that errors or 'hallucinations' in AI outputs could have serious consequences in legal contexts.

Bridging The Digital Divide

The judge also pointed to what he called a “digital divide” within the legal profession between those who can easily adapt to new tools and those constrained by limited access or training.

He called for sustained capacity building, continuing legal education, and public–private partnerships to ensure that technological progress is inclusive.

Confidentiality and cybersecurity, Justice Surya Kant noted, are emerging as critical challenges. "Lawyers deal in trust and therefore the confidentiality, privilege, data integrity, and cybersecurity of their clients must remain sacrosanct. As legal professionals they entrust more of their workflows to digital systems, thus, the threat of hacking, data leaks, or misuse becomes very real. It is incumbent upon us, and our legal institutions, to demand the highest standards of security," he said.

Regional Collaboration Between India And Sri Lanka

Justice Surya Kant said that India and Sri Lanka, which share a common legal heritage, have much to gain from collaboration in developing digital legal systems. He proposed the creation of a South Asian Legal Tech Consortium, bringing together judges, practitioners, academics, and technologists from across the region to share innovations, best practices, and ethical frameworks.

“There is enormous potential for joint development of open-source legal tools, multilingual legal assistance platforms, and translation engines that bridge linguistic barriers,” he said. Such collaboration, he suggested, could help countries in the region leapfrog costly developmental stages and build shared digital infrastructures for the justice system.

He also recommended introducing legal technology courses in law schools and judicial academies, as well as exchange programmes focused on innovation in legal systems.

In his concluding remarks, Justice Surya Kant urged the judiciary and the Bar to guide technological progress through ethical and humanistic principles. “We stand at a decisive moment — we can resist technology and risk stagnation, or we can shape and guide it, embedding our legal and ethical values within its design, so that, it strengthens, not supplants, justice," he said.