NEW DELHI: Expressing serious concern over parking problems in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India on Wednesday suggested that lawyers use cycles instead of cars for coming to court.
Chief Justice of India R M Lodha asked, “Why don’t you reduce the inflow of cars in the Supreme Court?”
“Why can’t you lawyers use cycles instead of cars, it would be environment-friendly too,” the CJI suggested.
To this suggestion, Solicitor General Ranjit Sinha said that cycling all the way to the SC on a daily basis would be difficult for people from far-flung places. “Lawyers from Noida and Gurgaon cannot cycle to the Supreme Court,” Sinha said.
The court asked the Centre to find a solution to the problem, saying its premises were choked with heavy traffic.
“It is for you to find a solution. Do something concrete. Not doing anything creates an impression that you are avoiding it,” the court said.
The Bench also said that people were increasingly preferring heavier vehicles. It cited how a former Supreme Court Judge, who was to join the International Court of Justice in Hague, Netherlands, was asked whether he would prefer a new or old cycle for conveyance.
The Bench was hearing a Pulic Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Indian Council of Legal Aid and Advice, seeking its direction to the government to explore ways to mitigate parking woes in the Supreme Court.