Artificial Intelligence and the Evolution of Criminal Trial Procedures: A Comparative Study of CRPC, 1973 And BNSS, 2023

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining legal landscapes across the globe, influencing procedural justice, evidence assessment, and courtroom dynamics. In India, the longstanding procedural framework under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC, 1973) met transformative conceptual reform with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS, 2023). This article explores the synergy between AI and criminal trial procedures, comparing the traditional mechanisms of the CrPC, 1973 with the modern aspirations of the BNSS, 2023. It assesses how AI applications such as predictive analytics, automated evidence review, and machine learning tools integrate with procedural reforms to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and fairness. The article also situates India’s experience within international perspectives, analysing global trends in AI adoption in criminal justice systems. Through a critical examination, it identifies opportunities, limitations, and future directions for AI-enabled criminal trials in India. The study concludes that while AI presents transformative potential, ethical safeguards, regulatory clarity, and jurisprudential stewardship remain essential to ensure just outcomes.