Embrace AI, mediation to ease delivery of justice: SC judge

Hyderabad: Supreme Court judge Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha on Monday said lawyers continued to serve as the primary gateway for citizens seeking justice, even as he flagged the growing pressures faced by the legal profession in a rapidly evolving environment.Speaking at an event organised by the Telangana High Court Advocates' Association (HCAA), Justice Narasimha noted that today's litigants were far more informed, often consulting multiple legal experts and articulating precise expectations before engaging counsel. This, he said, had made legal practice more demanding than ever before.Stressing the need to address pendency and ensure timely justice, Justice Narasimha urged the Bar council to meaningfully integrate technology into legal practice. Embracing artificial intelligence (AI), he said, was no longer a matter of choice but a necessity for improving efficiency and expediting case disposal.He strongly advocated mediation as an effective parallel dispute resolution mechanism and called upon Bar councils and advocates' associations to take the lead in training lawyers as professional mediators.Observing that a lawyer's success rested on personality, trust and confidence, Justice Narasimha cautioned that erosion of these attributes could undermine client faith. He also suggested the establishment of a dedicated Telangana Academy to provide structured and rigorous training for both aspiring and practising advocates.Likening the legal system and independence to two wheels of a cart, Justice Narasimha said the autonomy of the judiciary was vital for a functioning democracy."For individuals to succeed, the system's support is crucial. Bar councils and associations play a vital role in safeguarding the rights and independence of lawyers," he said, adding that he would personally extend support to the legal fraternity in his capacity as a Telugu person.The event was attended by Telangana high court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, advocate general A Sudarshan Reddy, and several senior judges and officers of the high court.