India, June 21 -- Several countries have laws on pedestrian rights: The Nordic countries have "freedom to roam" and the US has state-level vehicle codes and urban zoning laws. India, on Friday, elevated the right to walk safely and without obstruction on designated paths to a fundamental right. The Supreme Court, while hearing a pedestrian-death compensation case, drew from multiple provisions of Articles 19 and 21 to do this. This marks a paradigm shift: The provision of safe avenues for walking - a governance concern so far - is now a constitutional guarantee. This means local governments are constitutionally obligated to create and maintain safe footpaths. And citizens can seek constitutional and civil remedies against a breach of this...