Jammu, June 22 -- In crowded urban areas, sidewalks built along roads and trees lining long routes, providing greenery and shade to travellers, have become things of the past. Sidewalks have been encroached upon by shopkeepers, while trees have fallen victim to road-widening projects and so-called development. In its judgment dated June 19, 2026, the Supreme Court declared the safe use of sidewalks by pedestrians to be their fundamental right. A bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice A.S. Chandurkar issued this direction while enhancing compensation in the case of the death of a five-year-old child who was on his way to school and lost his life in a road accident.

There was a time when Hazratganj in Lucknow, Godowlia in Vara...