New Delhi, June 5 -- Seeking to strike a balance between technological innovation and judicial independence, the Supreme Court has proposed sweeping regulations governing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in courts, requiring lawyers to disclose AI-assisted filings and imposing an absolute ban on the use of AI for judicial decision-making, sentencing and bail determinations. The draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Courts, 2026, placed in the public domain for comments till June 20, state that AI systems may function only in an assistive capacity and cannot supplant the role of judges. The regulations underscore that "the ultimate authority to determine matters of law, fact and justice shall vest exclusively in the judicial officers of the competent jurisdiction." The framework was prepared under the aegis of the Supreme Court's AI Committee and seeks to establish uniform standards for the use of AI in the Supreme Court, high courts, subordinate courts, tribunals and statutory commissions exercising adjudicatory functions. One of the most notable provisions is Regulation 20, which sets out a list of uses that are absolutely prohibited. The draft bars AI systems from independently determining judicial outcomes, passing sentences or performing adjudicatory functions. Any AI-generated recommendation relating to adjudication or sentencing would remain merely advisory and must undergo independent judicial evaluation. The regulations further prohibit AI-based risk scoring systems from being used to assess flight risk, predict recidivism, determine bail eligibility or evaluate the credibility of parties and witnesses. Courts are also barred from using AI to predict or profile the future behaviour of litigants, accused persons, witnesses or lawyers....