CJI Flags AI Bias Targeting India’s Poor

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna delivered a compelling critique of AI’s embedded biases against the economically disadvantaged during a key lecture in New Delhi. Organized by Respect India, the eighth edition of the Dinakar Memorial Lecture focused on ‘Rashmirathi: The Epic of Social Justice,’ where the CJI reiterated social justice as the cornerstone of civilized society.

Invoking poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s ‘Rashmirathi,’ he noted its pre-constitutional advocacy for equality and dignity. In democratic India, he argued, these must translate into tangible respect for all, beyond mere legislation.

The CJI voiced alarm over enduring inequalities that Dinkar exposed decades ago, still plaguing contemporary India. Emerging tech like AI, if not aligned with human-centric constitutional values, poses a grave risk of intensifying exclusion, he warned.

True justice arises from blending ideals with implementation, supported by literature’s moral compass and constitutional ethics to nurture societal equity.

The occasion felicitated BJP MP Manoj Tiwari with ‘Dinkar Sanskriti Samman 2026’ for upholding the poet’s heritage. Tiwari lauded Dinkar’s enduring inspirational power and cultural significance.

Diverse attendees from legal, educational, and civic spheres participated. Vikas Singh, SCBA President, linked Dinkar’s prose to ancient justice roots, hailing the lecture’s role in integrating art with current issues.

Manish Kumar Chaudhary of Respect India termed it a tribute to Dinkar’s legacy, inspiring ongoing generations and promoting cultural-social synergy.