The Supreme Court directed the Union government on Monday (August 3, 2026) to provide pedestrians broad, clearly-marked footpaths exclusively for their use. A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha said the right to a clean and broad footpath was a fundamental right the state could afford to everyone without any big investment.
Justice Narasimha emphasized the importance of ensuring that spaces for walkers are not encroached upon. He addressed Additional Solicitor-General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the Union government, saying, ’Wherever there is a road, there should be space for walkers.
Make sure these spaces are not encroached upon,’ before posting the case after a fortnight. On June 19, 2026, the apex court had declared the right to walk on demarcated and well-maintained footpaths a fundamental right. The court had prioritised movement through walking over motorised locomotion.
The judgment had come in a case about a five-year-old boy, who was crushed to death by a truck while walking to the neighbourhood school with his father. Justice Narasimha had observed that walking safely and carefree along wide footpaths, without danger lurking at every turn, was the most basic of rights. He stated, ’If a road exists, there must then be a duty to ensure that a footpath is demarcated and maintained for the walkers.
This is an enforceable duty. The fundamental right to walk on demarcated footpaths shall override the privilege of a motorised vehicle.’
