Rely on human intel and not AI, says SC judge at moot court

New Delhi: Students of law must rely on "natural human intelligence and legal reasoning rather than blindly depending on artificial intelligence", Justice B V Nagarathna of Supreme Court said at the prize distribution ceremony of the 22nd K K Luthra Memorial Moot Court Competition on Sunday.The chief guest of the event, which was held at India Habitat Centre, lauded the initiative that aims in equipping students with the experience of a courtroom and "bridging the gap between theory and practice".A moot court simulates real proceedings with law students arguing hypothetical cases.The event also featured Justices Anup Jairam Bhambhani, Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora and Sanjeev Narula of Delhi High Court as guests of honour.Organised by Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, in association with Nirmal Luthra Foundation, the competition saw participation from 138 institutes across India and abroad, with 72 teams advancing to the final rounds. Symbiosis Law School, Noida secured the first prize of Rs 30,000, while Lloyd Law College finished second.Congratulating the Luthra family on completing 22 years of the competition held in memory of senior advocate K K Luthra, Nagarathna underscored the importance of mooting, noting that, "academic learning alone is insufficient in legal profession and moots help in sharpening one's advocacy, research and articulation skills."Addressing the theme of this year's moot proposition — criminal liability arising from interference of AI-enabled medical technology — she acknowledged the tech's advantages but cautioned against uncritical reliance on it, particularly amid instances of fake citations in courtrooms.Nagarathna encouraged young lawyers to take up pro bono work — legal aid provided voluntarily and without payment to underserved individuals, organisations, or causes. "It may not give you an immediate following or a pay hike, but it will give you much-needed experience," she said.