Kejriwal gets ‘huge encouragement’ as CJI Thakur supports odd-even plan

“The newly appointed Chief Justice of India TS Thakur has backed the ‘odd-even traffic formula” proposed by the Delhi government to curb the ever rising pollution in the national capital.

When a reporter asked whether Supreme Court judges who live on the same street or in the vicinity could share their official cars, the CJI said: “I don’t know what my brother Justice Sikri who lives nearby to me would say, but definitely if a judge can pool cars, it sends a message to the people that we have no problem”.

The Delhi government announced last week it would allow cars on the roads only on alternate days from January 1, as it tries to reduce the choking smog, which worsens during winter months as the colder air traps pollutants. The official residences of all Supreme Court judges are in Motilal Nehru Marg or Krishna Menon Marg.

Supreme Court judges pooling cars would send the right message, he said.

He tweeted, “CJI’s support 2 odd even formula is welcome n huge encouragement”. Within minutes, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal thanked Thakur for his support and said vehicle pooling by Supreme Court judges would certainly inspire many. “Judges have no problem with the odd-even formula of the Delhi government”.

Public Works Department Minister Satyendra Jain said: “We need public participation for this initiative to succeed”.

This refers to the report, “Odds no longer even for cars in Delhi” (December 5).

In an interaction with journalists here, the CJI recalled his experience while flying from Jammu to Delhi and said there was a huge smoke cover over Punjab due to burning of crops by farmers in Punjab.

Welcoming the government’s determination, Justice Thakur stated all steps must be taken to make the air of the town clear and air pollution free.

On juvenile crime, he said that there was a bill before parliament and he was holding 14 cases to see what emerges.

On corruption in judicary: Will be intolerant towards deviant behaviour. On the demand for abolition of death penalty, he said he was aware of the strong movement for this goal but noted that for various reason, including terrorism, it was being retained in several countries, including some of the advanced ones.

On post-retirement job for judges: Nothing wrong in it. They are valuable human resource.