Key Points
- Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked an AI lawyer if the death penalty is constitutional in India.
- The AI lawyer confirmed the death penalty is constitutional but only for the rarest and most serious cases.
- The exchange took place during the opening of the National Judicial Museum and Archive at the Supreme Court.
- Chandrachud has been a strong supporter of using technology to improve the justice system.
- Chandrachud will retire as Chief Justice of India on November 10, 2024.
Looma News
In a historic moment at the opening of the National Judicial Museum and Archive (NJMA), Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had a conversation with an AI lawyer. He asked whether the death penalty is constitutional in India. The AI lawyer, dressed in a lawyer’s coat, responded yes, explaining that while the death penalty is constitutional, it should only be applied in the rarest and most serious cases, such as those involving exceptionally heinous crimes.
The exchange, which brought smiles to Chandrachud and the lawyers in the audience, marks an important step in integrating artificial intelligence into India’s judicial process. AI is increasingly being seen as a tool to improve the delivery of justice, a cause Chandrachud has strongly supported. During the event, he also praised the museum’s successful planning and execution. The project, which took just over a year to plan and six months to complete, aims to match the best international museums. It will showcase how the courts protect fundamental rights and deliver justice.
Chandrachud, a leading advocate for technological advancements in the judiciary, will retire as the 50th Chief Justice of India on November 10, 2024. Justice Sanjiv Khanna is set to succeed him.