In a direct response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for austerity and energy conservation, India's Supreme Court and the Union Power Ministry have swiftly implemented significant fuel-saving measures. These initiatives, prompted by global uncertainties and the West Asia crisis, aim to reduce consumption of petrol and diesel across government operations.
Supreme Court Shifts to Virtual Hearings and Remote Work
The Supreme Court, through a circular issued by Secretary General Bharat Parashar, announced several immediate changes. Hearings on "miscellaneous days," including Mondays, Fridays, and other designated days, will now be conducted exclusively via video conferencing. Cases scheduled during partial working days, such as summer vacation sittings and other recess periods, will also transition to virtual formats.
To further reduce daily commutes, the court has authorized up to 50 percent of registry staff in each branch or section to work from home for two days a week. Registrars are tasked with preparing weekly rosters, monitoring staff availability, and ensuring efficient work disposal. Judges are also encouraged to adopt car-pooling for official travel, reinforcing the commitment to resource conservation.
Power Ministry Urges PSUs to Embrace WFH and Curb Foreign Travel
The Union Power Ministry has directed its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), which include major entities like NTPC, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, Power Finance Corporation, and REC Ltd, to examine similar fuel-saving strategies. PSUs are encouraged to explore allowing some employees to work from home one day a week, potentially extending to up to 20 percent of staff on any given day, where feasible.
Additionally, the ministry has advised its PSUs to significantly reduce employees' foreign travel. Complementing these efforts, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is running a pilot program, the RAHI: Action for High Efficiency Initiative, which promotes the use of public transport and more prudent vehicle use among officials and PSU employees. A dedicated portal is under development to track monthly vehicle usage and incentivize responsible practices.
PM Modi's Broader Appeal for National Conservation
Prime Minister Modi's initial appeal, made on May 10 and reiterated on May 11, urged citizens and institutions nationwide to adopt various conservation measures. These included reducing petrol and diesel consumption, limiting gold purchases, utilizing metro services, promoting car-pooling, increasing reliance on electric vehicles, using railway networks for parcel movement, avoiding unnecessary foreign travel, and implementing work-from-home practices wherever possible. Following his appeal, the Prime Minister himself reduced the size of his convoy during domestic visits, signaling a broader government push for efficient resource utilization without impacting welfare spending or capital expenditure.