March 26, 2026 : The Supreme Court of India has raised serious concerns over the increasing misuse of artificial intelligence in legal proceedings, particularly the growing instances of fabricated judgments being cited before courts. The Court noted that this issue is not limited to India and is emerging as a global concern across multiple jurisdictions.

A bench comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vijay Bishnoi cautioned against the unverified use of AI-generated content in legal submissions. The judges emphasized that citing non-existent case law, regardless of whether it originates from AI tools or otherwise, directly undermines the credibility of judicial proceedings and disrupts the proper administration of justice.

The bench observed that such instances are becoming increasingly frequent, pointing to a broader systemic challenge linked to the unchecked adoption of emerging technologies in the legal domain.

Reinforcing professional accountability, the Court made it clear that advocates bear the responsibility of verifying every citation they rely upon. The use of AI tools, it stressed, does not dilute this obligation. While acknowledging that technology can aid legal research, the Court underlined that it cannot substitute careful human verification. Any failure in this regard may attract serious consequences.

These observations reflect the judiciary’s growing concern over the ethical deployment of AI in legal practice, highlighting the need for caution, responsibility, and adherence to standards that preserve the integrity of the legal system.