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At a formal LIDW 2026 debate hosted by RPC and Stephenson Harwood, counsel argued both sides of a motion to replace human arbitrators with AI while the Tribunal called the whole question a false binary. The debate on AI arbitrators was more candid surprising than most.
Reflecting on nearly five decades in the legal profession, from manual typewriters to AI, Sir Geoffrey warned that the competition to develop national AI capabilities is simultaneously a competition to preserve the influence of established legal systems, and that courts which resist this reality risk making themselves irrelevant.
Sir Geoffrey Vos, Former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, VK Rajah SC and Dr. Emilia Onyema examined whether digital justice systems, AI and accountability can deliver meaningful access to justice or whether the technology divide will deepen the inequalities they are meant to solve.
In a wide-ranging interview at LIDW 2026, the former Coca-Cola Europacific Partners General Counsel reflects on cross-border disputes, AI’s impact on legal practice, access to justice, and why she would choose the same career again. In an interesting segment of LIDW 2026, Mr. Hilton Mervis, Litigation Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte, held an engaging conversation with Ms. Clare Wardle, Former General Counsel and Company Secretary, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, on her insights as a general counsel.
In the last panel of the event titled “Hot Topics in Arbitration”, the panellists examined how recent global developments were reshaping arbitral practice and creating new procedural and substantive challenges for parties, arbitrators, and institutions alike.
The Court noted that mechanical police objections without substantive reasoning cannot be a valid ground to deny parole.
“In India, the concept of legal aid is closely tied to the vision expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution, which promises justice be it social, economic, and/or political, along with equality of status and opportunity, and affirms the secular character of the State.”
The present writ petition was filed by an advocate seeking provision of amenities for specially abled persons to access the Court premises.
“There can never be any threshold bar to a party filing a matter before the Registry of a Court.”
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed the Parliament about the expansion of legal aid and alternate dispute resolution systems, improved legal aid accessibility in Odisha, and ongoing efforts to support SC/ST communities.
The Court issued specific direction to the Trial Court to expedite the hearing… particularly when the petitioner is languishing under incarceration for more than 8½ years.
CJI Surya Kant’s Constitution Day address reaffirmed access to justice as central to India’s constitutional design.
The Legal Aid Centre, University School of Law and Legal Studies (USLLS), GGSIPU, is hosting Justice Spectrum: Rethinking Free Legal Aid in India on 4th November 2025. The event will feature a panel discussion, PIL drafting, quiz, and extempore competitions aimed at reforming India’s legal aid system and promoting access to justice.
The report is a starting point for reform, it gives policymakers and civil society a clearer sense of where attention is needed; but the work of reform requires persistent, coordinated action across data governance, institutional capacity and on-the-ground legal assistance.
Procedural fairness includes the right of parties to choose their mode of hearing, especially when both physical and virtual modalities are feasible. Tribunals must not only be accessible in form, but also in substance.
“The failure to provide documents to the accused in a language in which the accused could not read, would definitely scuttle the chances for the accused to instruct and assist his counsel in canvassing the defence on his behalf.”
The Court cautioned respondent 4 (Principal Secretary, Law and Legal Affairs Department) to remain “alive to his duty” to file a proper and complete affidavit.
The Court noted that although courts generally refrain from interfering in government policy, they are constitutionally obligated to intervene when such decisions infringe upon rights like access to justice or fair trial.
Established in 2014 and situated in Kolkata, West Bengal, Adamas University
The Division Bench of the Court, while deliberating over the matter, identified 2 major issues- (1) Open Correctional Institutions and (2) Modalities for visitation by lawyers in jail to ensure free legal aid to the deserving prison inmates.