Supreme Court Recognises Right to Walk as a Fundamental Right
- Context: The Supreme Court ruled that the right to walk on demarcated footpaths is a fundamental right.
- The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and A.S. Chandurkar.
Right to Walk Recognised Under Fundamental Rights
- The Court held that the right to walk forms part of:
- Article 19(1)(d) – Right to move freely throughout the territory of India,
- Article 19(1)(a) – Freedom of speech and expression,
- Article 19(1)(b) – Right to assemble peacefully,
- Article 19(1)(c) – Right to form associations, and
- Article 21 – Right to life and personal liberty.
- The right includes access to safe and properly demarcated footpaths.
Pedestrian Rights Take Priority
- The Court declared that pedestrians’ rights on designated footpaths are primary and must take precedence over the movement of motor vehicles.
- It emphasized that the fundamental right to walk overrides the privilege enjoyed by motorised vehicles.
Enforceable Right and Remedies
- Citizens can seek constitutional and legal remedies, including: Restitution, and Compensation, if their right to walk on safe footpaths is violated.
- Such remedies are independent of those available under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
