On Friday, the Karnataka High Court bid farewell to Justice Chandrashekar Mrutyunjaya Joshi. In his retirement speech, the judge gave a powerful message to the legal community about the rise of technology and the importance of human judgment.
Justice Joshi, whose career covered many years in both the district courts and the High Court, explained that the legal world is at a turning point because of rapid changes in technology.
The Human Touch in Law
Justice Joshi was firm in his belief that while technology is helpful, it has limits. He told the gathering:
“Artificial intelligence may transform courtrooms, but it can never substitute judicial reasoning or advocacy, making it imperative that technology is harnessed, not feared.”
He warned the legal community not to rely too much on digital tools. He observed that “artificial intelligence can never replace a lawyer or a judge,” but he made it clear that the legal system must still “learn to harness it to our advantage.”
Better Management, Not Just Better Tech
The retiring judge also spoke about the need for deeper changes in how courts work. He pointed out that:
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Courts need better institutional management and human resource policies.
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Technology should be used to make real improvements, not just “superficial upgrades.”
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Innovation should always support, not weaken, constitutional values.
Justice Joshi concluded by reminding everyone that the core responsibility of a judge is to protect individual rights—a task that requires human empathy and logic that AI cannot provide.
