Carpooling, virtual hearing, WFH: SC judges follow through on PM Modi's 'save fuel' appeal

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday followed through on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "save fuel" appeal to the citizens amid the Middle East crisis. It ordered that all matters listed on miscellaneous days, including Mondays and Fridays, as well as on partial working days, will be heard exclusively through video conferencing until further orders. It also “unanimously resolved” to encourage car-pooling arrangements to ensure optimum fuel utilisation.Additionally, up to 50% of the registry staff in each branch or section would be allowed to work from home for a maximum of two days a week on a rotational basis, provided court functioning remains unaffected, ANI reportedRegistrars concerned will have the authority to alter or limit the arrangement depending on operational requirements and the essential nature of work in specific sections.On Wednesday, PM Modi himself travelled in a drastically trimmed-down convoy, while several senior ministers, including home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh, also reduced the size of their carcades by more than half.The move was widely seen as an attempt by the government to signal that it is willing to “practice what it preaches” after PM Modi urged citizens to minimise fuel consumption through measures such as work-from-home, virtual meetings and restrained travel.