Using technology “thoughtfully and inclusively…can bridge the persistent gaps in our justice system”, said Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant Saturday, and underlined that it cannot, however, replace the human element and “the heart of justice must remain human”.
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Speaking at the Justice RC Lahoti Memorial Lecture in Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, on “Bridging the Gap: Reimagining Legal Aid in the Digital Age for Inclusive Justice in India”, Justice Kant said: “With the right vision and safeguards, technology can break geographical barriers, democratise legal awareness, and bring legal aid to the doorstep — or rather the palm of every citizen. If harnessed thoughtfully and inclusively, it can bridge the persistent gaps in our justice system.”
He said that though the country has made big technological strides, “yet, access to justice remains largely analogue.” “Courts are online, laws are also digitised, but quality legal aid has yet to trickle down to the last person in line. The digital divide has become the new face of inequality,” Justice Kant said.
Emphasising the need “to address the challenges faced by linguistic and cultural minorities,” Justice Kant said that “digital platforms must not only be multilingual but also culturally nuanced” and “when citizens see their own stories, customs, and worldviews reflected in legal education content, barriers of alienation and mistrust crumble, making way for genuine engagement and confidence in the system.”
Justice Kant called for holding virtual Lok Adalats by harnessing secure video platforms but cautioned that “the excitement of technology must be tempered with restraint. The digital divide is very real.”
“No technology is neutral. The tools we build reflect the values we embed in them. As we digitise legal aid, we must design systems with built-in ethics. Privacy must be paramount…” he said.
Justice Kant said, “artificial intelligence algorithms must be designed to flag, not exacerbate, the biases so entrenched in society” and that “privacy by design, user consent, and continuous public oversight should be the hallmarks of all digital legal solutions, assuring citizens that their quest for justice does not come at the cost of their security or dignity.”
