17 judges pedal to Gurgaon courts on car-free day

In a first, 17 judges, including the district and sessions judge of Gurgaon, cycled to various courts in the district on the car-free day on Tuesday.

In a first, 17 judges, including the district and sessions judge of Gurgaon, cycled to various courts in the district on the car-free day on Tuesday.

Judges on Tuesday said it is the right of every citizen to get clean air to breathe but it can be ensured only through collective effort. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

This comes in the wake of newly appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, TS Thakur, had come out in support of the Kejriwal government’s odd-even vehicle policy proposal wherein private vehicles with odd and even numberplates will be allowed to run on Delhi roads only on alternate days.

“It is the right of every citizen to get clean air to breathe but it can be ensured only through collective effort. Even the city judges are now thinking of coming to office by carpooling,” HS Thakur, the district and sessions judge of Gurgaon, said.

Car-free day aims to decongest Gurgaon roads by promoting public and non-motorised transport, for which four corridors in the city — Netaji Subash Marg, Golf Course Road, Cyber City, and Electronic City — go car-free every Tuesday.

The judges along with the Gurgaon police also cycled to Drona Public School in Sector 9 as part of the car-free day initiative.

“I would never buy a plot in this city even if it is available for free as the pollution levels are very high here. Even while pedalling to school, we were able to reach the destination without trouble only because the police were managing the traffic,” justice HS Thakur said.

At the school, the judges discussed the importance of a sustainable transport system in the city and also made the students aware of the need for a pollution-free city.

The principal of the school, Bhisham Bhardwaj, said they have been asking students and staff to make use of public transport or non-motorised vehicles on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Gurgaon police commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk and joint commissioner of police Saurabh Singh also participated in the cycle rally.

Several corporate firms and institutions in the city also observed the car-free day. Unitech Cyber Park showed a 12% reduction in the use of cars while Fidelity recorded an 18% reduction.