Source: Bar and Bench

Bar and Bench reports that the Supreme Court of India is set to implement AI-powered software to manage case listing and bench allocation, effectively ending human intervention in these administrative tasks. This landmark decision was confirmed in March 2026 by Chief Justice Surya Kant, aiming to modernize the registry and eliminate systemic inefficiencies. The move follows an internal probe in New Delhi that uncovered regular administrative lapses, including outdated technological infrastructure that allowed registry officials to maintain improper control over the cause list. By automating these processes, the court seeks to reduce the immense scrutiny often directed at the "master of roster" role.

The reform was triggered by a specific incident involving a petition challenging the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act, which was improperly relisted before a new bench despite a previous dismissal by a three-judge panel. Chief Justice Kant took strong exception to this lapse, initiating a broader administrative overhaul that included interdepartmental transfers of officials to dismantle entrenched incumbency. The implementation of AI is expected to ensure that case assignments are handled with absolute neutrality and transparency. This transition represents a significant step in the Indian judiciary's journey toward digital governance and predictive justice, ensuring that procedural errors do not undermine the integrity of the apex court's proceedings.