New Delhi, July 2, 2026

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly common in legal research, the Supreme Court has underlined that technology cannot replace professional responsibility. In a significant move aimed at protecting the credibility of judicial proceedings, the Court stressed that every legal citation presented before a court must be carefully verified. The ruling highlights that while AI can be a useful aid, its unchecked use has no place in the justice delivery system.

The observation came during the hearing of a case linked to Essel Infraprojects, where the Supreme Court found that judicial orders had relied on legal precedents that did not actually exist and appeared to have been generated through artificial intelligence. Taking serious note of the lapse, the Court set aside the concerned orders, saying that judgments influenced by fabricated legal authorities cannot be sustained.

The Bench observed, “It is necessary for Courts to adopt a zero-tolerance mode for producing, citing or using AI-generated precedents without verification. It is a misconduct on the part of an advocate to cite such judgments without verification. Equally, it is a serious lapse if a judge relies on such a fake or hallucinated AI-generated material as precedents in support of the determination. We have no hesitation in declaring that such a decision is no decision in the eyes of the law.”

To address the growing use of AI in legal practice, the Supreme Court asked the Bar Council of India to consider preparing appropriate guidelines through an expert committee and to examine disciplinary measures for lawyers who rely on unverified AI-generated material. The judgment reinforces that although artificial intelligence can support legal work, the final responsibility for accuracy and authenticity always rests with legal professionals and the courts.