Justice Hima Kohli on AI, Virtual Courts, and Social Media
Retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Hima Kohli recently shared her thoughts on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the judiciary, the role of virtual court proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges of social media trolling.
AI and Virtual Courts
Justice Kohli highlighted AI’s positive influence in the judiciary, especially in enabling virtual court proceedings and paperless systems. She noted that India was among the few jurisdictions that continued functioning during the pandemic due to virtual courts. Initially used for taxation and arbitration, virtual courts expanded to all areas during the pandemic.
Justice Kohli praised the court staff for their dedication, ensuring urgent cases were heard even when the number of cases was fewer. She emphasized the convenience for litigants and lawyers, particularly women, who could participate in court proceedings from home.
Social Media and Judiciary
Addressing social media trolling, Justice Kohli acknowledged its negative impact but stressed the importance of focusing on the positive aspects. She shared her decision to stay off social media since becoming a judge, suggesting it allows for a freer mindset.
Role During the Pandemic
Justice Kohli also discussed her role as a judge in the Delhi High Court and Chief Justice of Telangana High Court during the pandemic. She intervened to ensure ambulances were not stopped at borders, allowing patients to access medical treatment in Hyderabad, a city known for its medical facilities.
Doubts Revealed
Justice Hima Kohli -: Justice Hima Kohli is a retired judge who served in the Supreme Court of India. She has also been the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
AI in judiciary -: AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to computer systems that can perform tasks usually requiring human intelligence. In the judiciary, AI helps in managing court cases and conducting virtual hearings, especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual court proceedings -: Virtual court proceedings are court sessions conducted online using video conferencing tools. This became common during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety and continue legal processes without physical presence.
COVID-19 pandemic -: The COVID-19 pandemic was a global health crisis caused by the coronavirus, leading to widespread illness and changes in daily life, including how courts operated.
Social media trolling -: Social media trolling involves posting inflammatory or offensive comments online to provoke others. Justice Kohli discussed the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of social media instead of the negative ones.
Chief Justice of Telangana High Court -: The Chief Justice of a High Court is the head judge in a state’s highest court. Justice Hima Kohli served as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, where she made important decisions, especially during the pandemic.
