Need for southern bench of supreme court, says Siddaramaiah amid push for judicial reforms

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has emphasised the urgent need to improve access to justice, advocating for the establishment of a Supreme Court bench in South India. Speaking at the 22nd biennial state-level conference of judicial officers held at the Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad International Convention Centre at GKVK in Bengaluru, he said such a move would be a major step towards ensuring timely and equitable justice.

Highlighting the evolving landscape of governance, he noted that law and technology are no longer separate domains. “We are now in the era of artificial intelligence, and its influence on the judiciary is inevitable,” he said. However, he cautioned that while technology can enhance efficiency, it also raises serious concerns.

Siddaramaiah pointed out that algorithmic bias and lack of transparency in AI systems could undermine the principle of equality before law. He warned that over-reliance on opaque technologies might weaken the judiciary’s commitment to reasoned decision-making.

“The authority of judges must never be overshadowed by algorithms,” he asserted, stressing the importance of safeguarding judicial independence not just from external pressures but also from subtle technological dependencies.

The Chief Minister said the state government is committed to strengthening judicial infrastructure, promoting digital transformation, and encouraging innovation to create a robust ecosystem for justice delivery. Measures such as time-bound case management, reorganisation of jurisdictions, and improving government litigation practices are being implemented to reduce the burden on courts.

He also highlighted emerging challenges such as deepfakes, synthetic data, and verification of digital evidence, which are complicating legal processes. “Courts must play a decisive role in determining what constitutes reliable evidence in the digital age,” he said.

Calling for a balanced approach, Siddaramaiah underlined that constitutional values must guide technological adoption. He reiterated that justice is not merely a system to be managed but a moral responsibility to be upheld.