- Reliance on AI-generated fake precedents vitiates the adjudication process, as it undermines the integrity of judicial decisions.
- The Court held that a decision based on AI-generated material is no decision in the eyes of law, and even an iota of such reliance vitiates the adjudication.
- The Court reiterated a zero-tolerance mode for citing or relying upon AI-generated precedents without verification, marking it as a serious lapse.
- AI-fabricated judicial precedents are considered criminal misconduct, according to the Court's ruling.
- The Court has directed the Bar Council of India to establish a committee to formulate strict norms regarding the use of AI in legal citations.
- The Court emphasized that any judgment influenced by fake AI material is considered no decision at all.
- The draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Courts, 2026 prohibits AI from making judicial outcomes.
- The Court has consistently adopted a strict and cautionary approach to the deployment of AI in the justice delivery system.
The Supreme Court has emphasized a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of AI-generated fake precedents, declaring that any reliance on such material undermines the integrity of the judicial process.
The Court stated, “a decision based on such material is no decision in the eyes of law”, highlighting that even minimal reliance on AI-generated content vitiates adjudication.
The ruling comes in response to instances where tribunals, including the NCLT, relied on fictitious AI-generated legal citations, which the appellate tribunal overlooked.
The Court has consistently adopted a cautionary approach to AI in the justice system, asserting that “AI may serve as an assistive tool to improve efficiency, but it can never replace independent human reasoning, judicial discretion or professional accountability.”
In light of these concerns, the Court has instructed the Bar Council of India to establish a committee to examine the issue, frame guiding principles, and prescribe disciplinary consequences for advocates found relying on or submitting such material before courts.5
The draft ‘Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Courts, 2026’ explicitly prohibits AI in making judicial outcomes, including adjudication and sentencing.7
The Court's firm stance underscores the necessity for maintaining the rule of law and the integrity of judicial decisions in an era increasingly influenced by technology.
“The Supreme Court has declared that any reliance on AI-generated fake precedents vitiates adjudication and amounts to judicial misconduct. The court has directed the Bar Council of India to establish strict norms and disciplinary actions for lawyers who cite unverified AI material.”
