70 judges in Lucknow cycle to court amid PM Modi's push to save fuel

Approximately 70 judges in Lucknow cycled to work on Friday morning in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve fuel amid the ongoing global energy crisis due to the US-Iran war.

According to PTI, the group of judicial officers was flagged off by Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan of the Allahabad High Court, who led the initiative and joined the symbolic ride.

Lawyers and court staff also participated in the bicycle ride, with several opting e-rickshaws to commute to court premises. Placards mounted on the bicycles carried messages urging citizens to save fuel and adopt sustainable modes of transport.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Chauhan said the move was driven by a broader sense of national responsibility amid concerns over fuel availability and rising costs.

"Actually, this is our sincere concern with the nation... When we came to know that there's some little crisis regarding this fuel etc. then we decided that one all judicial officers should at least go to the court at least one day in a week, so that it would be not only the initiative, but it would be a good gesture of the judicial officers. And it is necessary because interest of the nation is, I again repeat, paramount," Justice Chauhan reportedly said.

The development comes amid wider calls for fuel conservation across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 10 urged citizens to adopt austerity measures in view of global energy concerns arising from tensions in West Asia.

The PM asked people to avoid unnecessary travel, use public transport wherever possible, and opt for alternatives such as cycling or electric vehicles for short distances. He also suggested reducing non-essential expenditure and encouraging work-from-home practices in suitable sectors to cut down on fuel consumption.

Notably, in a similar gesture earlier this month, Madhya Pradesh High Court Justice Dwarka Dhish Bansal cycled to court in Jabalpur.