District court complexes switch to ‘conservation mode’

In pursuant to a communication received from the Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta,the District and Sessions Judge,also the administrative in-charge of the trial courts,has issued a circular seeking compliance from all judicial officers and court staff. “Switch off all unnecessary lights and use only those required for efficient working. Reduce the (functioning of) air-conditioners to (maintain a temperature of) 24 degrees Celsius,” the note states.

The circular further directs judicial officers to turn off the lights,fans and air-conditioners of their cabins when they are not in.

“Officers and staff are requested to switch off lights when not in rooms so as to conserve electricity,” the circular states.

The directive further states that the caretaker and in-charge of the court buildings are to make sure the guidelines are followed. “The in-charge of the office building will make sure the lights are switched off after court hours,except emergency lights,which are required for security purposes,” it states.

The circular was distributed at all courts complexes last week,calling for compliance with suggested measures.

Judicial officers who received the circular find sense in the measures,and a number of them have already asked their employees to fall in line. “It is in everyone’s interest that we save as much electricity as we can. While most courtrooms do not have air-conditioners and are fitted with fans and desert coolers,conservation of power is always prudent,” an additional district judge at the Tis Hazari complex told Newsline.

The court staff has also shown interest in obeying the directions — and some cited interesting reasons to do so. While most of them agreed that electricity conservation was a good idea,others said they will put in their best efforts to make the move successful. “Conserving electricity at the courts would probably help improving the power situation at our homes,” said one of them. Some said the circular should have come earlier when the courts reopened after the summer break.