India, June 19 -- The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that pedestrians have a fundamental right to use footpaths, holding that motorists cannot undermine or override this right through road dominance or negligence.

Hearing a matter concerning pedestrian safety and urban infrastructure, the Court observed that the right to walk on demarcated footpaths is an essential facet of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. It further emphasised that road design and transport planning must prioritise pedestrians rather than vehicles.

The bench noted that in many urban areas, lack of proper footpaths and encroachments force pedestrians onto roads, significantly increasing the risk of accidents and fata...