In a symbolic gesture backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to cut fuel usage, Madhya Pradesh High Court judge, Justice D.D. Bansal, pedaled a bicycle from his official residence to the High Court in Jabalpur. Justice Bansal covered a distance of three kilometers in the scorching summer heat, with his security personnel also cycling alongside him instead of the usual convoy. This move deviated from the norm where judges typically commute in official or personal vehicles.
When Justice Bansal spoke to the media, he mentioned being inspired by PM Modi’s plea to the public to reduce petrol consumption. He highlighted that cycling has been a part of his routine and that he faced no inconvenience in cycling to court. Justice Bansal emphasized that despite the heat, cycling is beneficial, countering the notion that judges cannot use bicycles for commuting.
This act by Justice Bansal gains significance at a time when the extravagant fuel consumption associated with political convoys and VIP movements faces criticism. Meanwhile, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar also chose an e-scooter over a large vehicle for his commute to the state ministry, aligning with the trend of promoting alternative modes of transportation.
