Key Points
- Two AI tools developed by NIC for judicial research and case management
- ₹53.57 crore earmarked for AI under eCourts Phase-III
- LegRAA and Digital Courts 2.1 currently in pilot testing phase
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has developed two artificial intelligence tools designed to assist judges with legal research and case management, the government told Parliament on Friday (31 July).
The tools, Legal Research Analysis Assistant (LegRAA) and Digital Courts 2.1, are currently in pilot testing. Both have been built under the eCourts Mission Mode Project, which has earmarked ₹53.57 crore for AI-based solutions under its Future Technological Advancements component.
LegRAA uses artificial intelligence to help judges conduct legal research and analyse documents. The tool was developed by NIC’s Artificial Intelligence Division and the Centre of Excellence for eCourts (CoEE) in Pune. It is intended to reduce the time judges spend searching through case law and legal precedents, allowing them to focus on adjudication.
Digital Courts platform
Digital Courts 2.1, also developed by the CoEE in Pune, serves as an integrated digital case management platform. It provides judges and judicial officers with a single interface for all case-related information. The platform includes AI-enabled features such as voice-to-text transcription, which converts spoken words into written text automatically, and translation capabilities to assist in dictating orders and judgements.
These features address a practical challenge in courts, where judges often dictate orders in courtrooms and require accurate transcription. The voice-to-text function could reduce dependence on stenographers and speed up the documentation process.
By the numbers
- ₹53.57 crore
- Budget for AI under eCourts Phase-III
- 2
- AI tools developed for judicial assistance
The eCourts Mission Mode Project is implemented by the Department of Justice in coordination with the eCommittee of the Supreme Court. Phase-III of the project specifically includes provisions for adopting emerging technologies to enhance judicial efficiency.
The deployment and future use of these AI tools will be governed by the Rules of Business and policies of the Supreme Court and respective High Courts, the government said. This means each court will have discretion over how and whether to adopt these tools once they move beyond the pilot phase.
The information was provided by Arjun Ram Meghwal, union minister of state for law and justice, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
India’s judiciary has been grappling with a backlog of over four crore pending cases across courts. Technology interventions under the eCourts project aim to address this by digitising court processes and reducing administrative burdens on judges. The introduction of AI tools represents the next step in this digital transformation, moving beyond digitisation of records to active assistance in judicial work.
Your Questions, Answered
What is LegRAA and what does it do?
LegRAA stands for Legal Research Analysis Assistant. It is an AI-based tool developed by NIC to assist judges in conducting legal research and analysing documents, reducing the time spent searching through case law and precedents.
What features does Digital Courts 2.1 offer?
Digital Courts 2.1 is an integrated digital case management platform that provides a single interface for case information. It includes AI-enabled voice-to-text transcription and translation features to assist judges in dictating orders and judgements.
How much funding has been allocated for AI in eCourts Phase-III?
The government has earmarked ₹53.57 crore under the Future Technological Advancements component of eCourts Phase-III for adopting emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.
When will these AI tools be available to all courts?
Both LegRAA and Digital Courts 2.1 are currently in pilot testing phase. Their wider deployment will depend on testing outcomes and will be governed by policies of the Supreme Court and respective High Courts.
