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🇳🇵 Nepal /Technology

Nepal's courts approve AI for research, ban it from writing judgments

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Nepal's judiciary has approved the use of AI for legal research and administrative tasks but banned it from writing judgments.
  • The new policy allows AI tools after assessing their reliability and transparency, aiming to modernize courts.
  • AI will support tasks like drafting non-decisional documents, but human legal reasoning remains essential for judicial decisions.

Nepal's judiciary is embracing artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance efficiency and modernize its services. The Supreme Court's recent endorsement of the Judiciary Information and Communication Technology Policy 2026 permits AI for legal research, document management, and administrative support.

However, the policy explicitly prohibits AI from influencing or generating judicial decisions, including judgments, writ petitions, or any documents requiring human legal reasoning. This cautious approach aims to leverage technology while safeguarding the integrity of the judicial process. Any AI system must undergo rigorous assessment for reliability, transparency, potential bias, and operational framework before implementation.

We will make maximum use of technology to deliver justice more efficiently and quickly. But AI cannot be used for tasks that require human judgment, such as writing court decisions, writ petitions or judicial notes.

— Bimal PaudelNepal's Supreme Court Chief Registrar Bimal Paudel explained the policy's intent to use technology for efficiency while maintaining human judgment in decision-making.

The judiciary also plans to restructure its case management database to store records in machine-readable formats, enabling AI to quickly search and analyze legal documents. Chief Registrar Bimal Paudel emphasized that AI will serve as an assistant, not a replacement for human judgment. He noted the risks of AI citing incorrect or non-existent laws, underscoring the need for human oversight.

This policy marks Nepal's formal step into practical AI applications within the judiciary, with a primary focus on legal research. Joint secretary Amit Upreti highlighted the careful framework designed to ensure AI does not pressure human decision-making. The judiciary will also conduct training programs for judges, lawyers, and court officials to educate them on AI's benefits and risks.

We have been careful to ensure AI does not influence or pressure human decision-making. In matters that require judicial discretion and the application of specific legal provisions, AI could even generate references to laws that do not exist, making its use inappropriate.

— Amit UpretiAmit Upreti, a joint secretary involved in drafting the policy, elaborated on the safeguards against AI influencing judicial decisions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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