'Precedents Cited Never Existed': SC Flags 'Alarming' Trend Of AI Use For Drafting Petitions

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 15:31 IST

The Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant warned of an alarming rise in lawyers using AI to draft petitions, citing fake judgments and extracts in court filings.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday flagged what it called an “alarming" trend of lawyers using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to draft petitions, warning that several filings have cited judgments and extracts that “do not exist".

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant expressed serious concern over the growing use of AI in court filings without proper verification.

“We have been alarmingly told that some lawyers have started using AI for drafting," the CJI observed during the hearing.

Pointing out an example, Justice BV Nagarathna noted, “There was a case of Mercy vs Mankind which does not exist."

The Chief Justice added that a similar instance had occurred in a matter before Justice Dipankar Datta. “All precedents cited never existed," he remarked.

Justice Nagarathna further noted that in some cases, lawyers had cited genuine Supreme Court judgments, but the quoted portions were fabricated. “Then some are citing real supreme court cases, but those quoted portions do not even exist in the judgment," she said.

News india 'Precedents Cited Never Existed': SC Flags 'Alarming' Trend Of AI Use For Drafting Petitions

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