Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Supreme Court asks Centre to consider AI ethics guidelines suggestions
Some people in India were worried about how the government uses artificial intelligence, which is like a computer brain that can make decisions.
A lawyer named Narendra Kumar Goswami thought the government should have clear rules for using AI.
He wanted the government to list all the computer programs it uses to watch people, deliver services, and check online content.
He also wanted experts to check whether these programs were fair to everyone.
The lawyer asked the Supreme Court, the highest court in India, to make these rules.
The judges said they are not experts in computer technology.
They said making these rules is a job for the government, not for judges.
So the court asked the government to think about the lawyer's ideas.
The lawyer can also add more information to his request if he wants.
The judges did not say whether the lawyer was right or wrong.
A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the Centre and other authorities to consider a petitioner's suggestions on binding AI ethics and transparency guidelines.
The bench said it is "not the experts" and that AI regulation is a highly technical issue in the policy domain.
Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami's PIL sought disclosure of all high-risk government AI systems used in welfare, policing, surveillance and content regulation.
The court disposed of the petition without expressing an opinion on its merits and allowed the petitioner to supplement his representation.
The petition also sought an expert committee, algorithmic impact assessments, bias audits, human-in-the-loop oversight and parliamentary legislation on AI.
- Who
- A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard a PIL filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami.
- What
- The court asked the Centre and other authorities to consider suggestions on framing binding guidelines on AI ethics and transparency in AI-based surveillance and content moderation, then disposed of the petition.
- When
- Thursday, August 13, as reported by PTI.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, at the Supreme Court.
- Why
- Because the bench said AI regulation is a highly technical issue in the policy domain and that judges are not experts, so the authorities should consider the petitioner's suggestions.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- CJI Surya Kant; Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Petitioner
- Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami
- Date of hearing
- Thursday, August 13
- Location
- New Delhi
- Core demand
- Binding guidelines on AI ethics, mandatory algorithmic impact assessments and bias audits, transparency in AI-based surveillance and content moderation, human-in-the-loop oversight, and data protection safeguards
- Status
- Petition disposed; suggestions referred to the Centre for consideration
- Earlier representation
- Submitted to the government in February this year
