Justice Prathiba M Singh of the Delhi High Court has formally advocated for the systematic establishment of dedicated intellectual property (IP) courts across India to address the mounting complexity of modern litigation . Speaking at a high-level discourse on "Shaping the Legal Architecture of Viksit Bharat 2047," Justice Singh argued that the current legal framework requires structural updates to ensure specialized oversight and consistency in intellectual property disputes. The session, which examined the future trajectory of India’s legal system, was organized by the University of Chicago Center in Delhi , the Nani Palkhivala Foundation , and the General Counsels' Association of India (GCAI) , and was moderated by Sanjeev Gemawat .

The proposal emphasizes a shift toward regional specialization, specifically calling for amendments to the Commercial Courts Act . By establishing dedicated IP courts at both the district and High Court levels, the justice believes that the judiciary can foster deeper expertise among the bench. This specialization is expected to facilitate rigorous judicial training and the development of a more robust, predictable, and consistent body of jurisprudence , which is essential for protecting the interests of domestic and international innovators. As she noted during the discussion, "I have no doubt in my mind that we need to create uniform IP courts across the country."

Integrating Digital Infrastructure into Judicial Processes

Beyond the restructuring of courts, Justice Singh proposed a groundbreaking "national judicial stack," drawing inspiration from the successful implementation of the nation's digital public infrastructure. This stack would serve as a centralized, technological backbone for the entire judiciary, potentially transforming the efficiency of case management. With the current backlog reaching approximately 5 crore pending cases across the country—a figure that excludes additional pendencies currently held within various tribunals and revenue authorities—the need for a systemic, data-driven upgrade has become critical.

The proposed judicial stack would function similarly to existing national digital interfaces, providing application programming interfaces (APIs) to facilitate seamless interaction between court systems, legal practitioners, and the public. By offering API access to judicial data, the legal system could potentially foster technological innovation, allow for granular research, and catalyze significant data-driven administrative reforms. Such a platform could modernize how cases are assigned, tracked, and resolved, moving the judiciary toward a more transparent and responsive model. The move would also enable a more cohesive approach to handling complex cases that move across different legal tiers and geographic jurisdictions.

Navigating the AI Frontier in Judicial Practice

The discussion also delved into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the judiciary, reflecting a global trend that is currently being scrutinized by leading legal bodies. Drawing on her role as the chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Advisory Board of Judges, Justice Singh shared insights from the ninth WIPO Intellectual Property Judges Forum held in Geneva on October 14 and 15. The forum served as a significant global platform, drawing registrations from over 970 judges from various jurisdictions, with 167 of those attendees participating in person to debate the integration of machine learning and generative tools in courtroom settings.

The focus at the forum was heavily weighted toward the practical application of AI in judicial functions. One of the most striking findings highlighted by Justice Singh was the shifting attitude of the global judiciary toward AI-assisted workflows. A questionnaire circulated among the forum’s participants revealed that 52 percent of the judges expressed an active interest in utilizing AI to assist in the drafting of judgments. This statistic suggests a rapid evolution in how judges perceive technology, moving from viewing AI as a peripheral novelty to considering it a necessary instrument for navigating high-volume caseloads.

By integrating such tools, judges could potentially delegate the more mundane aspects of drafting to AI-assisted platforms, thereby freeing up judicial capacity for the nuanced legal deliberation required in complex intellectual property matters. However, the proposal for AI integration is balanced with the understanding that such tools must be introduced within a controlled, ethically grounded framework that maintains the integrity of judicial outcomes. The discussions in Geneva highlighted that while AI offers immense potential for efficiency, it must remain a supportive mechanism that aligns with the established standards of judicial reasoning.

Future Path for Specialized Legal Architecture

The call for specialized IP courts and a national judicial stack represents a broader shift toward a more proactive, technology-integrated, and specialized legal environment in India. As the country moves toward its 2047 vision, the alignment of legislative frameworks with technological advancement and subject-specific expertise is increasingly seen as a requirement for sustainable economic growth and the protection of intellectual assets. The legal community expects that the proposals brought forward will stimulate further debate among lawmakers, policy researchers, and the judiciary regarding the necessary amendments to the Commercial Courts Act and the technological investment required to bring the judicial stack to fruition.

For now, the dialogue remains focused on consolidating these ideas into actionable policy. As the judiciary continues to grapple with record-high pendency rates, the transition from legacy systems to a unified, tech-forward infrastructure—paired with the targeted expertise provided by specialized courts—is viewed by many as the most viable path toward reducing administrative friction and ensuring the efficient administration of justice. The ongoing internal assessments within the High Court regarding these digital and structural reforms, combined with international best practices discussed at the WIPO forum, will likely dictate the next steps in this modernization drive. As stakeholders await potential legislative movement, the focus remains on building a legal architecture that is as resilient and adaptable as the economy it serves.