Judges walk, cycle to court

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

Setting an example for the entire city, several Judges and many employees of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today came to the court on bicycles or used public transport to observe Car-free Day.

The call was given by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Employees Welfare Association in the wake of increasing pollution and growing traffic in the city.

While several Judges reached the High Court premises on foot, some preferred to ride a bicycle from their residences to encourage staff members and even lawyers to observer Car-free Day.

Acting Chief Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar walked down to the High Court this morning. Justice Surya Kant, Justice RS Malik, Justice Raj Mohan Singh, Justice Hari Pal Verma, Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Anita Chaudhry also followed suit. Meanwhile, Justice PB Bajanthri and Justice Arun Palli reached the High Court premises on a bicycle.

Two registrars, including Registrar Judicial Sunil Chaudhary and Registrar Administration Sandeep Singh, reached the court on a bicycle.

The association had appealed to all its members to use a bicycle, public transport or a two-wheeler to the office on December 19. The move was to help the city go greener and make it traffic free.

A large number of bicycles were parked in the parking lot near Gate No. 1 of the High Court complex. Several staff members, who usually drive down to the court in cars, drove a two-wheeler today.

Since a large number of the High Court employees reside in Sector 27 and 28, two special buses were arranged to ferry them to the court and back to their residences. The buses were jam-packed with employees who enjoyed their ride on the public transport.

Few senior advocates also supported the initiative and reached the court on bicycles.

The Chandigarh Police have also planned to organise a Car-free Day in the first week of January as part of the Police Week Celebrations. Residents will take voluntary decision to take part in the campaign or not.

Maneesh Chaudhary, SSP Traffic, said the Chandigarh Police had also planned to take a similar initiative by organising a Car-free Day as part of the Police Week Celebrations. “We will urge people from the tricity to either ride a bicycle or commute on public transport. If they don’t opt for the two options, then car pooling can be another option. It will also lessen the traffic on roads”, the SSP said.

The SSP further said that the police of two neighboring districts, Panchkula and Mohali, would also be roped in to ensure effective implementation of Car-free Day. “We will take the help of various agencies, including professionals like lawyers, doctors and NGOs to spread awareness and observe Car-free Day”, the SSP added.

To lessen the traffic, the UT police had also proposed to the UT Administration to restrict the movement of vehicles in the city on the pattern of Delhi. The Delhi Government has restricted the movement of private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers to alternate days from January 1.

City cops to observe the day in Jan 

The Chandigarh Police are also organising Car-free Day during the first week of January for which residents from across the tricity will be encouraged to voluntarily participate in the noble cause. —  Maneesh Chaudhary, SSP, Traffic, Chandigarh

‘Participation by Judges’ motivated us’

The initiative witnessed a great response from the High Court employees. Many Judges also participated in the initiative, which further motivated us. —  Rajinder Bhatia, general secretary, punjab and haryana high court employees welfare association