The Supreme Court of India on Friday, 15 May announced a set of fuel conservation measures, directing that all matters listed on miscellaneous days be heard exclusively via video-conferencing, while also formalising car-pooling arrangements among judges and permitting up to 50 per cent of registry staff to work from home. The measures align with the Centre's broader drive to curb fuel consumption as the prolonged West Asia conflict continues to strain India's energy import bill.

Virtual Hearings on Miscellaneous Days

Under a circular issued by Secretary General Bharat Parashar, the apex court has mandated that all matters listed on miscellaneous days — Mondays, Fridays, and any other days designated as miscellaneous — as well as matters taken up during partial working days, will now be conducted solely through video-conferencing until further orders.

The circular placed clear operational responsibility on the registry: 'The Registry shall ensure that links for the video-conferencing are sent in a timely manner, maintain stable video-conferencing facilities and extend timely technical assistance so as to avoid any inconvenience to the Hon'ble Court,' it stated.

Judges Unanimously Resolve to Carpool

In a notable gesture of institutional solidarity, the Supreme Court said its judges have 'unanimously resolved' to encourage car-pooling arrangements among themselves 'to ensure optimum utilisation of fuel.' The move signals that the conservation push extends to the highest levels of the judiciary, not merely administrative staff.

Work From Home for Registry Staff

The circular permits up to 50 per cent of staff in each branch or section of the registry to work from home for up to two days a week. The remaining staff are required to remain physically present to ensure uninterrupted court administration.

Officials availing the WFH arrangement must remain reachable by telephone and be prepared to attend office at short notice. Concerned Registrars have been empowered to restrict or modify the arrangement in branches where the nature of work demands physical presence or where remote functioning proves ineffective. The circular also directs that 'a weekly roster is prepared before the commencement of the week.'

Broader Context: Centre's Fuel Conservation Drive

The Supreme Court's circular comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens and institutions to reduce fuel consumption and avoid unnecessary expenditure in view of economic pressures arising from the ongoing West Asia crisis. Several state governments and organisations — including the Delhi government — have since announced fuel-saving measures such as WFH policies, promotion of public transport, and restrictions on official travel.

This is a rare instance of the Supreme Court formally aligning its administrative operations with a national economic advisory, underscoring the severity of the fuel supply concern. With no end to the West Asia conflict in immediate sight, these arrangements are expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.