Shimla: In a bid to reduce fuel consumption and government expenditure, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed judges to adopt carpooling for daily commutes and allowed up to 50 per cent of its employees to work from home for a maximum of two days a week.
The decision follows directives from the Central Government and the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia has ordered immediate implementation of the measures. Registrar General Bhupesh Sharma has issued an official circular in this regard.
According to the circular, the move aims to control rising expenses. Under the new arrangement, judges will share vehicles while travelling to and from the court to cut down on petrol use.
For the staff, each branch or section of the registry will allow 50 per cent of its employees to work from home for a maximum of two days per week. The remaining 50 per cent must be physically present in the office to ensure smooth functioning. Registrars have been asked to prepare a weekly roster before the start of each week.
Employees permitted to work from home will have to remain available on phone at all times and report to the office immediately if required. The facility will not apply to critical departments where work cannot be done remotely. In such cases, the concerned registrar will take a final call to prevent any disruption in court proceedings.
Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavindra Gupta has announced a series of steps to reduce fuel consumption in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national appeal amid the West Asia crisis.
The Governor has halved the size of his official vehicle convoy with immediate effect. He has also declared Lok Bhawan a ‘Fuel Conservation Zone’ and announced that no petrol will be used there on Sundays.
All official programmes and meetings on Sundays will be conducted through video conferencing or pooled transportation. Non-essential government meetings will similarly shift to virtual mode to cut down on unnecessary road travel. Official events will also be consolidated to minimise vehicle movement.
Governor Gupta further stated that he will not use the state government helicopter for any official work until the West Asia crisis ends and global fuel prices stabilise.
As Chancellor of state universities, he has appealed to all Vice-Chancellors to immediately institutionalise fuel and energy conservation measures on their campuses. He urged them to promote carpooling, cycling, and use of public transport among teachers, staff, and students.
The Governor called upon the youth to actively participate in nation-building efforts. “This is not just a fuel-saving measure, but an expression of our collective responsibility towards the nation,” Gupta said.
These steps aim to promote simplicity, reduce fuel use, and position Himachal Pradesh as a model state in India’s collective response to global energy challenges.
