India Condemns Disruption at CJI Surya Kant’s UK Speech over “Indecorous Behaviour”

The High Commission of India in London on Friday criticized what it called “indecorous audience behavior” during Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s lecture at Birkbeck College, after videos showed an attendee trying to interrupt the event with questions about dissent and democracy in India. The commission said differences of opinion are natural in a democracy, but argued they must be expressed civilly and respectfully.

The incident took place during Justice Kant’s address on artificial intelligence and international law at Birkbeck College, University of London. Organisers stepped in after the attendee attempted to raise concerns about India’s democratic record and alleged hostility toward dissent, saying the session was meant to remain focused on artificial intelligence and its legal implications.

In his lecture, Justice Kant described artificial intelligence as one of the defining legal and governance challenges of the modern era. He said the technology is no longer theoretical and is already affecting public institutions, legal systems and governance structures across the world. According to him, AI will have lasting consequences for democratic societies and international law, depending on how governments choose to regulate and apply it.

Justice Kant said technology itself is neither inherently good nor harmful, and that its impact depends on the legal, political and ethical frameworks surrounding it. He said the role of law is not to block technological progress or surrender to it, but to ensure that technological power remains accountable to constitutional values, democratic legitimacy and human dignity.

He noted that AI is already being used across many sectors, including governance, commerce, communication, defence and the justice system. He pointed out that governments are using algorithmic systems to distribute welfare benefits, process immigration applications, monitor borders, regulate financial systems and assist policing. He also said militaries are rapidly developing autonomous capabilities, while courts are beginning to deal with AI-generated evidence, automated decision-making and digital due process. He added that private companies now possess technological capacities that can match or surpass the informational reach of states.

Justice Kant also highlighted the growing role of AI in judicial administration, saying it is being used for legal research, case management, translation, transcription, document organisation and identifying precedents. He said these tools could improve efficiency, but also raise difficult questions about fairness, accountability and the future of human judgment in legal processes.

He stressed that AI poses challenges that cross national borders and require coordinated legal responses. He warned that humanity must remain the author of the principles by which it is governed, even as intelligent machines become more influential. He added that if international law can meet this challenge, AI could become not only a technological revolution but also a chance to reaffirm democratic values at the heart of civilization.

Justice Kant is on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom, during which he is meeting legal and academic institutions to discuss technology, law and global governance.