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National
Supreme Court Declares Walking a Fundamental Right, Mandates Footpaths
🗓 20 Jun 2026, 12:32 AM
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The Supreme Court has recognized walking as a fundamental right, emphasizing the need for footpaths on all roads to ensure pedestrian safety. The ruling directs authorities to prioritize walkers and maintain pedestrian infrastructure.
In a significant pronouncement, India's Supreme Court has declared the right to walk a fundamental right, intrinsically linked to the right to life and personal liberty. The apex court underscored the necessity of well-defined footpaths on all roads, asserting that pedestrian safety must take precedence over motorized traffic.
This landmark decision empowers citizens to pursue legal action if their right to walk is infringed upon. It also places a mandate on civic bodies to ensure the construction and upkeep of pedestrian infrastructure, aiming to fundamentally alter urban and rural living conditions by making public spaces more accessible and safer for walkers.
The court's directive calls for legislative action to formalize these requirements, ensuring that the government enacts laws that guarantee the provision of footpaths across all road networks. This move is expected to significantly enhance the safety and convenience of pedestrians nationwide.
This landmark decision empowers citizens to pursue legal action if their right to walk is infringed upon. It also places a mandate on civic bodies to ensure the construction and upkeep of pedestrian infrastructure, aiming to fundamentally alter urban and rural living conditions by making public spaces more accessible and safer for walkers.
The court's directive calls for legislative action to formalize these requirements, ensuring that the government enacts laws that guarantee the provision of footpaths across all road networks. This move is expected to significantly enhance the safety and convenience of pedestrians nationwide.