जस्टिस पंकज मिथल ने Supreme Court Bar विदाई समारोह में न्यायिक पेंडेंसी और AI के अत्यधिक भरोसे की चेतावनी दी

<p>Justice <strong>Pankaj Mithal</strong>, a retiring judge of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court — India's apex judicial body that interprets the Constitution and settles disputes (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span>, warned that the growing <span class="key-term" data-definition="judicial pendency — the backlog of cases awaiting disposal; a high pendency undermines rule of law and access to justice (GS2: Polity)">judicial pendency</span> threatens the lives and liberties of millions. Speaking at a farewell function organised by the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Bar Association — professional body of lawyers that represents the interests of the legal profession and upholds standards (GS4: Ethics)">Bar Association</span>, he also cautioned against excessive reliance on <span class="key-term" data-definition="artificial intelligence — computer systems that mimic human intelligence; increasingly used for legal research but raises ethical and reliability concerns (GS4: Ethics)">artificial intelligence</span> in legal practice.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>He described <span class="key-term" data-definition="judicial pendency — the backlog of cases awaiting disposal; a high pendency undermines rule of law and access to justice (GS2: Polity)">judicial pendency</span> as a human story, not just a statistic; each pending file affects a family, an under‑trial or a commercial concern.</li> <li>He highlighted that <span class="key-term" data-definition="constitutional courts — courts that interpret the Constitution and adjudicate matters affecting fundamental rights and governance (GS2: Polity)">constitutional courts</span> now confront issues of governance, technology, liberty, economic regulation, social justice and constitutional morality.</li> <li>He stressed that infrastructure alone cannot cure delays; a disciplined institutional culture, efficiency and sensitivity are equally essential.</li> <li>He warned that unchecked use of <span class="key-term" data-definition="artificial intelligence — computer systems that mimic human intelligence; increasingly used for legal research but raises ethical and reliability concerns (GS4: Ethics)">artificial intelligence</span> is leading to inaccurate pleadings, false citations and careless drafting.</li> <li>He urged lawyers to act as peacemakers, promoting reconciliation, affordable and simple justice – “sulabh, sasta and saral”.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <ul> <li>Born on <strong>17 June 1961</strong> in Meerut; enrolled with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh in <strong>1985</strong>.</li> <li>Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court on <strong>7 July 2006</strong>.</li> <li>Served as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh from <strong>4 January 2021</strong> and of Rajasthan High Court from <strong>14 October 2022</strong>.</li> <li>Joined the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court — India's apex jud