Himachal High Court introduces work-from-home, carpooling measures amid austerity push
Shimla, May 18
The High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Monday introduced work-from-home provisions for registry staff and carpooling arrangements for judges as part of austerity measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption and streamlining administrative functioning amid the Centre's push for resource optimisation.
The measures, which came into immediate effect, were notified through a circular issued by Registrar General Bhupesh Sharma on May 18.
According to the circular, the decisions were taken in line with recent directions issued by the Government of India's Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and a related communication from the Supreme Court of India.
The move also comes shortly after the Himachal Pradesh Governor's Secretariat initiated austerity measures in the state.
As part of the initiative, judges of the High Court have unanimously resolved to encourage carpooling among themselves to ensure optimum utilisation of fuel amid rising concerns over fuel consumption and the ongoing West Asia crisis.
The High Court has also permitted up to 50 per cent of the staff in each branch or section of the Registry to work from home for up to two days a week, subject to approval by the concerned Registrars.
Officials said the remaining staff would continue to be present in the office to ensure uninterrupted functioning of court administration and judicial work. A weekly roster would be prepared in advance for the smooth functioning of the system.
The circular further clarified that employees permitted to work from home must remain accessible over the telephone at all times and should be prepared to report to the office whenever required.
The High Court has also empowered concerned registrars to restrict, withdraw or modify the work-from-home arrangement in branches where remote functioning is found ineffective or where the nature of work requires physical presence in the office.
The measures are being seen as part of broader efforts to rationalise administrative expenditure and optimise available resources without affecting essential judicial functioning.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative but I have my doubts. Work from home for court staff? Will they be as efficient? The circular says they must be accessible by phone, but what about urgent filings? And carpooling for judges - nice symbolic gesture, but how much fuel will it actually save? Let's see the real impact. I'm cautiously optimistic.
As someone who works in a law firm in Delhi, I can see this being challenging. The judicial system in India already struggles with delays. WFH might slow things down more. But credit to the Himachal High Court for trying something new. At least they're thinking about fuel conservation and resource optimisation. Let's hope the implementation is smooth and doesn't affect litigants.
About time! Our courts need to modernise. Why should judges and staff commute daily when technology can handle many tasks? But I hope the High Court has proper infrastructure - reliable internet, secure systems, etc. And what about the lower courts? They need similar reforms too. Small steps, I guess. 👍
This is a great step for environmental sustainability too. Less fuel consumption means less pollution. And carpooling among judges sets a powerful example for the public. But I worry about security - court documents are sensitive. Sending staff home with case files? Hope they have strong data protection policies in place.
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