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Supreme Court Warns of Global "Rampant Menace" of AI Fake Judgments

The Supreme Court of India has identified the citation of non-existent or AI-generated fake judgments as a rampant global menace affecting courts worldwide. The observation came during a hearing where the court expunged certain remarks made by the Bombay High Court. The bench emphasized the need for extreme caution, noting the issue raises serious concerns for the integrity of the judicial process. This warning follows a recent instance where a trial court was found relying on such fabricated judgments.

Key Points: SC Flags AI-Generated Fake Judgments as Global Menace

  • SC warns of global fake judgment menace
  • Cites AI-generated non-existent rulings
  • Calls for heightened judicial vigilance
  • Issue under institutional consideration
2 min read

SC flags 'rampant menace' of AI-generated fake judgments worldwide

Supreme Court warns of rampant global menace of citing AI-generated fake judgments, calling for heightened vigilance in judicial proceedings.

"The fact remains that this menace is rampant in all Courts now, not only in India but throughout the world. - Supreme Court Bench"

New Delhi, March 26

The Supreme Court has cautioned that the growing practice of citing "non-existent" or incorrect judgments has emerged as a "rampant menace" affecting courts not only in India but across jurisdictions globally.

Emphasising the need for heightened vigilance in judicial proceedings, a Bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Bishnoi made the observation while hearing a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Heart and Soul Entertainment Ltd. against certain remarks made by the Bombay High Court regarding the alleged citation of a non-existent judgment.

Flagging the seriousness of the issue, the apex court observed: "However, the fact remains that this menace is rampant in all Courts now, not only in India, but throughout the world. Everyone needs to be careful about this."

The bench also noted that the issue is already under consideration on the judicial side, indicating a broader institutional concern.

During the hearing, the Director of the petitioner company, appearing in person through video conference, submitted that he wished to press the plea only with respect to the Bombay High Court's observations.

"Though he tried to explain that he never cited that judgment, however, at the present, we are not going into that issue," the apex court said.

Granting relief to the petitioner, the Justice Bindal-led Bench said: "As a matter of indulgence, we expunge the remarks made in the aforesaid paragraph."

In its order, the Supreme Court highlighted a broader and more pressing concern affecting the justice system.

"The fact remains that this menace is rampant in all Courts now, not only in India rather throughout the world. Everyone needs to be careful about this," the top court said, noting that it is already seized of the issue on the judicial side.

The observations assume significance in light of a recent instance where the Supreme Court had taken serious note of a trial court allegedly relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated "non-existent and fake" judgments while deciding a civil dispute. Calling it an issue with a direct bearing on the integrity of the adjudicatory process, a Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe observed that the matter raised "considerable institutional concern", warning that reliance on "non-existent and fake" judgments could constitute misconduct and invite legal consequences.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who works in legal tech, this is a nightmare scenario. The integrity of our entire judicial system is at stake if fake citations go unchecked. We need a central, verified database of all judgments from the Supreme Court down to district levels. 🇮🇳
V
Vikram M
Finally! The courts are waking up to this digital threat. But the solution can't just be warnings. There must be strict penalties for lawyers who cite fake judgments, whether AI-generated or not. It's a form of cheating the court and the client.
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Priya S
While the concern is valid, I hope this doesn't slow down the adoption of genuine tech tools that can help our overburdened judiciary. The focus should be on verification, not fear. Many young lawyers use AI for research assistance, not to fabricate cases.
R
Rohit P
This is scary yaar. Imagine someone's life or property depends on a court decision, and the judge is referring to a fake precedent generated by a computer. The Supreme Court is right to call it a "rampant menace". Strict action is needed.
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Michael C
A global problem indeed. The Indian judiciary is showing foresight by addressing it head-on. Other countries should take note. The solution lies in a combination of technology (blockchain for court records?) and old-fashioned due diligence by legal professionals.

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