Judge uses artificial intelligence, cites non-existing case law in order: Why Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld it

The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently held that a judicial order does not become invalid merely because it refers to non-existent citations or rulings generated by Artificial Intelligence, provided the legal principles applied are otherwise correct and in consonance with settled law.

Justice Ravi Nath Tilhari made the observation while dismissing a plea challenging a trial court’s order that refused to strike down an advocate commissioner’s report in a property dispute. The main contention of petitioners was that the trial court passed the order relying upon non-existent rulings.

“If the learned Trial Court has considered the correct principles of law and its application to the facts of the case is also correct, mere mentioning of incorrect or non-existent rulings/citations in the order cannot be a ground to set aside the order,” the court noted.

It clarified that judicial interference would be warranted if the legal principle applied is not settled law, or if its application is flawed due to reliance on non-existent, AI-generated rulings.

“If the principle of law applied is not the law of the land or its application in a given case is faulted because of relying on non-existent rulings generated by AI, then the case for interference would be made out,” the order read.

Ashish Shaji is a Senior Sub-Editor at The Indian Express, wh... Read More