Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Justice D.D. Bansal rode a bicycle from his official residence in Civil Lines to the High Court in Jabalpur on Tuesday, 12 May, in a symbolic gesture backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption. Notably, his security personnel also accompanied him on bicycles, forgoing the usual official convoy and pilot vehicle.

The Unusual Morning Commute

Justice Bansal covered approximately three kilometres in the scorching summer heat — a striking departure from the standard protocol in which a pilot vehicle escorts a High Court judge's official car and traffic movement is regulated along the route. The sight drew wide attention among those who witnessed it on Tuesday morning in Jabalpur.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at court, Justice Bansal said he was directly inspired by the Prime Minister's repeated public appeal. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the public to reduce their consumption of petrol. Consequently, I decided to commute from my bungalow to the High Court on a bicycle," he said.

What Justice Bansal Said

Justice Bansal dismissed any suggestion that the commute was an inconvenience, noting that cycling has been a lifelong habit. "Cycling is nothing new to me. During my childhood, I used to cycle to school. Even now, I cycle regularly on Dumna Road. I have also cycled within the city with the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva," he added.

Rejecting the notion that judges cannot commute by bicycle, he remarked, "It is hot, so there may be some minor inconvenience, but cycling is beneficial. I experienced absolutely no discomfort while covering the distance from Civil Lines to the High Court."

Bhopal Echoes the Gesture

The same day in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar opted for an e-scooter instead of a large official vehicle while travelling to the state ministry — a parallel show of solidarity with the fuel-conservation appeal. The back-to-back gestures from a sitting judge and a cabinet minister on the same day lent the initiative unusual institutional weight.

Broader Significance

The gestures come at a time when large political convoys and VIP vehicle movements frequently attract public criticism over fuel wastage and the environmental cost of high-security motorcades. Prime Minister Modi has made repeated appeals to citizens to cut down on petrol and diesel use, framing fuel conservation as both an economic and environmental imperative. Tuesday's actions signal that the appeal is resonating beyond the general public and into the institutional establishment. Whether these symbolic acts translate into sustained behavioural change — or prompt formal policy shifts such as EV mandates for official fleets — remains to be seen.