ChatGPT is no more limited to the use of academicians and scholars, now it has been an aid to Judiciary as well. The Punjab and Haryana HC recently in the case of Jaswinder Singh @ Jassi v State of Punjab used the AI tool to get a broader picture of bail jurisprudence when an assault is the one involving cruelty. The Court put the following question to the AI tool:
“What is the jurisprudence on bail when the assailants are assaulted with cruelty? To which the AI responded that: “The jurisprudence on bail for cases where the assailants have assaulted with cruelty will depend on the specific circumstances of the case and the laws and regulations of the jurisdiction where the case is being tried. However, in general, if the assailants have been charged with a violent crime that involves cruelty, such as murder, aggravated assault, or torture, they may be considered a danger to the community and a flight risk. In such cases, the judge may be less inclined to grant bail or may set the bail amount very high to ensure that the defendant appears in court and does not pose a risk to public safety. The severity of the assault, the defendant’s criminal history, and the strength of the evidence against them are all factors that a judge will consider when deciding whether to grant bail. It is important to note that the presumption of innocence is a fundamental principle of the justice system, and all defendants are entitled to bail unless there are compelling reasons to deny it. Therefore, even in cases where the assailants have been assaulted with cruelty, they may still be granted bail if the judge determines that they do not pose a risk to the community or a flight risk.”
The case was regarding a bail application arising from an attempt-to-murder case wherein the petitioner along with some accomplices had brutally assaulted an individual which eventually led to their death. It was observed that when the physical assault is done with an element of cruelty, the parameters of bail also change since its impact is also systemic. The court analyzed the allegations, injuries, and evidence which pointed out that the accused and some of his accomplices acted with ferociousness and a total lack of mercy. Thus, does not warrant the grant of bail to the accused.” The Bail plea was thus dismissed.
The Court clarified that “Any reference to ChatGPT and any observation made hereinabove is neither an expression of opinion on the merits of the case nor shall the trial Court advertise to these comments. This reference is only intended to present a broader picture on bail jurisprudence, where cruelty is a factor.”