Technology And Access To Justice: A Double- Edged Sword In The Digital Age
- IJLLR Journal
- Nov 16, 2025
- 2 min read
Shivansh Singh, Presidency University, Bangalore
Jahangeer Alom, Presidency University, Bangalore
Richa Kashyap, Presidency University, Bangalore
ABSTRACT
Technology can revolutionize India's overworked legal system. The National Judicial Data Grid gives the public access to 32 crore judgments, Tele-Law has reached 50 million rural beneficiaries, and the E-Courts Project has automated 18,735 courts. These improvements have removed geographical barriers, expedited case resolution, and reduced administrative workload by 23.7%. Beneath this story of advancement, however, comes a far more nuanced reality: technology concurrently exacerbates inequality for the people it is meant to help. Through six interrelated lenses, this paper explores the contradictory role of technology in access to justice. First, it lists real advantages of digitalization, such as remote hearings, e-courts, and case management systems that cut across geographical boundaries. Second, it critically examines the digital divide, which is the systematic exclusion of vulnerable groups from digital justice systems due to discrepancies in digital literacy, gender exclusion, caste-based marginalization, and rural connectivity limitations. Third, it addresses algorithmic bias by analyzing the ways in which AI systems massively reinforce past discrimination. Fourth, it discusses the drawbacks of legal technology innovation, such as chatbot delusions and noncompliance in online dispute settlement. Fifth, it offers all-encompassing solutions, including human-centered AI design, digital literacy initiatives, equitable policy frameworks, and infrastructure development via Bharat Net. Lastly, it paints the future of justice by striking a balance between equality concerns and rising technologies. The main point is clear: technology is not neutral. Political considerations are reflected in every design decision. Deliberate decisions made now to guarantee that technology reaches the underprivileged, upholds human judgment, and prioritizes equity over efficiency alone will determine whether India's digital transition promotes justice or inequity.
