Siddaramaiah Calls for Supreme Court Bench in South India, Highlights AI Challenges in Judiciary
Karnataka CM stresses better access to justice while urging balanced use of technology in courts
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has underscored the need to establish a bench of the Supreme Court of India in South India to make justice more accessible to people in the region.
Speaking at the 22nd Biennial State Level Conference of Judicial Officers in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister said that distance and accessibility remain key challenges for citizens seeking justice from the country’s highest court. He noted that setting up a southern bench would significantly improve access and efficiency.
Addressing the theme of the conference, which focused on the role of artificial intelligence in the judiciary, Siddaramaiah said technology is reshaping how courts function but must be used with caution. He emphasised that while AI can assist in faster legal research and better case management, it should not overshadow human judgement.
“The authority of a judge must never be overshadowed by the authority of an algorithm,” he said, warning against over-reliance on automated systems.
The Chief Minister pointed out that a large number of pending cases continues to delay justice delivery. While technology can help reduce this backlog, he stressed the need for broader reforms such as improving infrastructure, increasing the number of judges, and modernising court processes.
Siddaramaiah also raised concerns about emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence, including algorithmic bias and lack of transparency in decision-making systems. He said such issues could undermine fundamental principles like equality before the law and reasoned judgments.
He further highlighted the growing complexity of handling digital evidence, including deepfakes and AI-generated content. According to him, courts will increasingly have to determine what constitutes reliable and authentic evidence in the digital age.
Despite the challenges, he acknowledged the benefits of technology, noting that AI could help democratise access to legal knowledge, while tools like blockchain could improve the security of judicial records. However, he stressed that efficiency should never come at the cost of fairness.
Siddaramaiah added that judicial independence must be protected not only from external pressures but also from excessive dependence on technology. He said no algorithm can replace human empathy, moral reasoning, and real-world understanding in delivering justice.
The event was attended by senior members of the judiciary, including Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Supreme Court judges B V Nagarathna and Aravind Kumar, and Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka will continue to invest in judicial infrastructure and support digital transformation while ensuring that innovation aligns with the principles of justice.