In every broken system, there comes a moment when the pitch deck arrives before the policy fix. Criminal justice is no exception.

From artificial intelligence-based legal assistance to digitised grievance portals, technology is now being framed as the cornerstone of criminal justice reform.

Of course, interventions such as the expansion of e-filing systems and court record digitisation have meaningful potential in democratising access to justice. By reducing the need for physical presence, minimising travel costs and allowing litigants to access case updates and orders remotely, these tools enhance transparency and make legal processes more accessible.

But their adoption is uneven.

While the broader narrative remains focused on finding revolutionary solutions, the ground reality inside police stations, courtrooms and prisons is different. These mechanisms continue to fail beneficiaries – largely due to poor implementation, inadequate staff and the lack of political will.

Instead of strengthening institutional capacity or evaluating existing legal and social remedies, the push is toward chasing the next prototype. In this race for innovation, it is easy to forget that justice is not a startup.

The India Justice Report 2025 is a detailed account of the gaps in the criminal justice system’s embrace of technology. The report was produced through the collaborative efforts of academic...

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