New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has raised serious concerns over the growing use of AI-generated fake judgments and incorrect legal citations, calling it a “rampant menace” affecting courts not only in India but worldwide.

A Bench comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vijay Bishnoi made the observation while hearing a special leave petition filed by Heart and Soul Entertainment Ltd., which challenged remarks made by the Bombay High Court regarding the alleged citation of a non-existent judgment.

Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, the apex court said, “The fact remains that this menace is rampant in all courts now, not only in India but throughout the world. Everyone needs to be careful about this.”

The Bench noted that the issue of fake case citations and reliance on AI-generated court rulings is already under judicial consideration, signalling broader institutional concern over its impact on the integrity of the justice system.

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During the hearing, the director of the petitioner company, appearing via video conference, submitted that the plea was limited to challenging the Bombay High Court’s observations. The court clarified that it would not examine the factual dispute at this stage.

Granting relief, the Bench ordered that the remarks in question be expunged, stating: “As a matter of indulgence, we expunge the remarks made in the aforesaid paragraph.”

The Supreme Court also underlined the wider implications of the issue, warning that the misuse of artificial intelligence in legal research could undermine judicial processes if not handled with caution.

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The observations gain significance following a recent case where the apex court flagged a trial court’s alleged reliance on AI-generated ‘non-existent and fake’ judgments while deciding a civil dispute.

In that instance, a Bench of Justice P S Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe termed the matter a “considerable institutional concern”, warning that citing fabricated judgments could amount to legal misconduct and attract serious consequences.

IANS