New Delhi: Carpooling arrangements for judges to save fuel, allowing work-from-home for 50 percent of the court staff and only virtual hearings for cases listed on Monday and Fridays—these are some of the measures the Supreme Court wants adopted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to citizens on fuel conservation.
The top court circular states that to ensure the optimisation of fuel, “The Supreme Court judges have unanimously resolved to encourage car pooling arrangements among themselves.”
Welcoming the move, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association senior advocate Vikas Singh told ThePrint, “The government has urged the country to stop fuel consumption so we are simply following their mandate.”
Advocate Vipin Nair, president of the executive committee of Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association, told ThePrint, “We are simply carrying out this move in deference to the government’s 12 May circular.”
Clarifying that there will be protocols in place like adequate safeguards for seamless hearings, Nair said, “The number of moderators will be enhanced and the mute feature will also be introduced. This is a step in the right direction.”
“Although the Bar expressed some anxiety about regulating the video conferencing protocols, we have assured them that the system is moderated and there are no glitches,” Nair told ThePrint.
Significantly, the circular has been released amidst the Delhi government’s move to allow work from home, and reducing travel to keep at bay fuel shortage concerns, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to adopt measures to conserve fuel.
Citing an office memorandum issued by the Centre Tuesday (12 May), the Supreme Court’s circular said that these measures must be adopted with “immediate effect”.
Following the release of this circular by the top court, matters listed on Mondays and Fridays, will only be heard on video conferences.
Apart from this, even cases which have been listed during the court’s partial working days will be heard on video conferences, and not in person, the 15 May circular said.
“The Registry shall ensure that links for the video conferencing facilities are sent in a timely manner,” the circular said while also directing the Registry to maintain stable video conferencing facilities and to extend timely technical assistance to avoid any inconvenience to the court.
Till further orders, up to 50 percent of the staff in each section or branch of the court Registry will work from home, for a maximum of two days a week, so that the remaining staff is in office to ensure its uninterrupted functioning.
The weekly roster must also be prepared before the week begins, the court said. Essentially, a roster refers to a schedule which includes which judge will hear what type of cases.
Court staff who will work from home, have also been directed to remain available on the phone, and be ready to attend office. “The concerned officers shall also ensure timely completion of various tasks assigned to them,” the circular said.
Finally, the Supreme Court’s circular also allows the Registrar to modify or restrict the work from home arrangement for any branch or section if they think it is not effective.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: ‘Digital India’, but no WFH? Government employees ask Centre for respite from pollution