India, July 7 -- The Supreme Court, on June 19, 2026, delivered a judgment declaring the "Right to Walk Safely on Demarcated Footpaths" as a Fundamental Right under the Constitution.

The 13-page verdict starts on a very emotive tone: "Like any young father, the appellant lovingly readied his five-year-old son and left home at 9 am to drop him at the neighbourhood school. Who could have ever imagined that it would be the last walk with his son? As the father and son were walking towards the school, a tanker came from behind and struck the boy, crushing his waist and lower body. He succumbed to the injuries."

The judgment continued: "Take it for granted, there was neither a footpath nor a pedestrian crossing." "Accidents like this continu...