No honking, just harmony: Punjab and Haryana HC judges, lawyers walk the talk on ‘green day’

There was no honking cavalcade this morning, no rush of SUVs at the Punjab and Haryana High Court as judges, lawyers, clerks and court staff abandoned their cars this working Saturday to mark the beginning of Green Commute Day. Instead, the hum of rented buses, soft pings of WhatsApp notifications from waiting lawyers and the unexpected sight of bicycles parked neatly along Gate No. 1 set the tone for the day.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Deepak Sibal walked down to the high court from their official residences in Sector 4. Joining them on foot were Justice Lisa Gill, Justice Anupinder Grewal, Justice Suvir Sehgal, Justice Alka Sareen, Justice Alok Jain, Justice Vikas Behl, Justice Namit Kumar, Justice Jagmohan Bansal, Justice Harsh Bunger, Justice Deepak Manchanda and Justice Rohit Kapoor — each choosing to tread the green path.

Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj and Justice Aman Chaudhary were present at Gate No. 1 to receive the four designated buses — two ferrying lawyers and the other two, court staff. They waited for nearly half an hour as passengers deboarded the vehicles, one group at a time.

The passengers — including senior advocates R S Cheema, ML Sarin, Atul Lakhanpal and Shailendra Jain — boarded the buses from two planned eco-routes: one winding through the residential belts of Chandigarh, the other from the clusters of Panchkula.

From Peer Muchalla’s sleepy lanes at 8 am to Sector 7 by 9.15 am, the Panchkula route picked up passengers like clockwork: Sector 20, Sector 4, Bella Vista Chowk, MDC, IT Park — pausing wherever needed.

The second route from Chandigarh began at Sector 38’s Sanatan Dharam Mandir at 8.10 am and passed through 35/43 lane, Sector 44 and Sector 49 before reaching the court via Rock Garden and the leafy middle of Sector 4. The last stop — High Court Gate Number 1 — was reached just as the court’s morning rhythms began.

“This isn’t a shuttle service,” said one of the coordinators. “It’s a movement on wheels.”

But even those who could not join the ride made it a point to assemble at Gate No. 1 at 9:15 AM — to cheer those who did. “It was a quiet act of solidarity, a human applause line forming not for a victory, but for a choice,” a lawyer said.

“We’re not aiming for 100 per cent conversion in a day. We are simply asking: can the way we get to Court reflect the values we uphold in Court?” he added.

For every bus that rolled in, there was a murmur of approval. For every lawyer who parked a bicycle, there was a nod. Clerks swapped carpool stories. Juniors debated whether next time they would try cycling from Sector 15. Even the suggestion of further judicial participation added weight to the effort.

This was not just about cleaner air or unclogged roads. It was about culture. A subtle reset. A tiny, turning wheel.

As lawyers entered the court complex, someone quipped, “Let’s argue for the planet the same way we argue our cases — earnestly, and every day.”

The initiative was the fourth by Feed Goal, a group of aware lawyers working for environment and indulging in enlightening discussions. The earlier initiatives included cleanliness drive, plantation and movie screening.

Its members said the Bar Association’s executive committee, lawyers and employees fully support the idea to make it a resounding success.