The Gujarat High Court has officially banned the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by judges and court staff for core judicial functions, including drafting orders, legal reasoning, and judgment preparation. Unveiled on April 4, 2026, the new policy mandates that human intelligence must remain the final authority in the delivery of justice to prevent “hallucinations,” biases, and breaches of confidentiality.
While the policy allows AI for minor administrative tasks and legal research, it fastens personal liability on judges and officers for any AI-assisted output, ensuring that technology remains a support tool rather than a replacement for human conscience.
Ensuring Human Supremacy In Justice
The ‘Policy on Use of Artificial Intelligence in Judicial and Court Administration’ makes it clear that AI cannot be used to author or substantially compose any binding legal ruling, even if a judge reviews it later. The court highlighted significant risks, including the “erosion of judicial independence” and the potential for AI to fabricate evidence or citations.
Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath, speaking at the policy’s unveiling in Vadodara, stated, “Adjudication is not a purely mechanical exercise… It requires empathy, fairness, and a sense of justice that cannot be reduced to algorithmic outputs.”
Under the new rules, any document signed by a judge remains their sole responsibility, and AI-related errors cannot be used as a defence against charges of professional negligence or misconduct
A Shield Against Algorithmic Bias
This move follows growing global concerns over “AI hallucinations,” where generative models produce non-existent case laws or biased summaries.
The policy specifically prohibits entering sensitive data such as party names, witness addresses, or confidential legal strategies into AI tools to comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Prior to this formal ban, the court had issued warnings in early 2026 after noticing instances where quasi-judicial authorities over-relied on unverified automated summaries. By restricting AI to “the narrowest conceivable role,” such as metadata-driven case allocation and basic translation, the Gujarat High Court aims to harness efficiency without compromising the sanctity of the courtroom
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that while technology is a powerful ally in bridging the gap of judicial pendency, it must never replace the heartbeat of justice: human empathy.
A machine can process data, but it cannot understand the lived realities, socio-economic struggles, or the ‘conscience’ required to deliver a truly fair verdict.
This policy is a commendable step toward ensuring that our legal system remains accountable and transparent. In an age where we are quick to automate, preserving the “human touch” in our courts is vital for maintaining public trust. We hope this sets a precedent for other institutions to prioritise ethics over mere speed
