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Supreme Court ruling and implementation of footpath rights in Bengaluru

5 entries over 44 days, from 22 June 2026 to 4 August 2026.

01
22 June

Supreme Court ruling on footpath usage

  • Supreme Court Bench (Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar) ruled in Maniyar Iliyaz@Shaik Riyaz versus P. Ayyappan that footpaths are not merely safety strips but essential public spaces.
  • The Court declared the right to walk on a comfortable and safe footpath as a priority over movement by motor vehicles.
  • The judgment links the right to walk with civilisational advancement and equitable access to urban spaces.
  • Article 39(b) of the Constitution is cited, mandating that material resources of the community must be distributed to sub-serve the common good, preventing the monopoly of the motorised class.
  • The Court identified urban development authorities, municipal corporations, and panchayats as the primary 'duty-bearers' for footpath maintenance.
  • The judgment recommends that the government enact a statutory law to protect the right to walk and establish a dedicated regulator to address pedestrian grievances.
  • The Court suggests a framework similar to the Right to Education Act, which created the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights as a regulator.
  • The Registry has been directed to send the judgment to Central Ministries and the Law Commission of India for consideration of a legal framework.
3 questions on this day
02
12 July

Arun Pai's Bengaluru pavement initiative

  • Supreme Court of India has declared walking on footpaths as a fundamental right.
  • Karnataka government has allocated ₹70 crore for the improvement of 2,000 km of footpaths in Bengaluru.
  • The 'Safe Footpath' campaign aims to enhance urban walkability, though it has faced challenges regarding the displacement of street vendors.
  • Civic engagement models like 'The Ugly Indian' emphasize non-confrontational, action-oriented problem solving and anonymity.
  • The 'India Rising Trust' acts as a contractor to fill gaps in government capacity for urban maintenance.
  • Urban walkability is identified as a critical factor for improving public safety, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing overall urban mobility.
  • Effective urban governance strategies include collaborative partnerships between civil society, local ward officers, and municipal authorities.
  • The 'compounding effect' of media and public emulation is suggested as a mechanism for scaling civic solutions.
3 questions on this day
03
21 July

Urban planning and pedestrian rights

  • Supreme Court ruling in Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz vs P. Ayyappan (2026) declared walking on demarcated footpaths a fundamental constitutional right under Article 19(1)(d) and Article 21.
  • WHO India Physical Activity Profile 2024: 49.4% of Indian adults, 57.2% of women, and 74% of children/adolescents (11-17) do not meet recommended physical activity levels.
  • Road safety data: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (2024) reports pedestrians and two-wheeler riders account for nearly 67% of road fatalities (1.28 lakh deaths).
  • NCRB 2024 data indicates pedestrians and two-wheeler riders represent at least 60% of road fatalities (1.1 lakh deaths).
  • Urban planning failure: Lack of safe, continuous, and barrier-free footpaths contributes to sedentary lifestyles and metabolic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
  • Policy recommendation: Shift from episodic anti-encroachment drives to planned allocation of street space (footpaths, vending zones, utility corridors, and parking).
  • Proposed governance measures: National active-mobility mission, ward-level footpath audits, traffic calming in school zones, and prioritizing pedestrian infrastructure in all road projects.
4 questions on this day
04
24 July

Bengaluru 'Safe Footpath' drive

  • The Supreme Court has recognized the right to walk on safe, obstruction-free footpaths as a fundamental right.
  • Street vending is a legitimate occupation protected under Article 19 of the Constitution, subject to regulation in the public interest.
  • The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, aims to balance the public's right to safe footpaths with the street vendor's right to livelihood.
  • The Act mandates the constitution of a Town Vending Committee (TVC) as the primary mechanism for regulation.
  • TVCs must include officials, police, planning authorities, resident representatives, and at least 40% street vendor representation.
  • The Act requires a survey of all street vendors to be completed before any eviction or relocation occurs.
  • Eligible vendors are issued a Certificate of Vending, which grants the right to vend at a specified location but does not confer ownership of public land.
  • The Act prohibits arbitrary removal of vendors and mandates that all regulatory actions follow the established legal process.
4 questions on this day
05
4 August

Supreme Court directive on pedestrian footpaths

  • The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to ensure the provision of broad, clearly-marked footpaths for exclusive pedestrian use.
  • The Court has asserted that the right to walk on demarcated and well-maintained footpaths is a fundamental right.
  • The judiciary maintains that providing such infrastructure does not require significant financial investment from the state.
  • The directive emphasizes the necessity of preventing the encroachment of pedestrian spaces along public roads.
3 questions on this day

Questions from this story

Newest first. A story that ran for 44 days is exactly the kind the mains paper asks about as one question.

  1. The right to walk on well-maintained footpaths has been recognized as a fundamental right by the judiciary. Discuss the implications of this judicial stance for urban planning and the protection of pedestrian rights in Indian cities. 150 words · 4 August
  2. Urbanization in India often prioritizes vehicular traffic at the expense of pedestrian infrastructure. In light of recent judicial directives, analyze the challenges in ensuring inclusive urban mobility and the constitutional obligation of the state to provide safe public spaces. 250 words · 4 August
  3. The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, seeks to balance competing constitutional rights. Discuss how the Act attempts to reconcile the right to public space with the right to livelihood. 150 words · 24 July
  4. Examine the role of Town Vending Committees (TVCs) in urban governance. How does the institutional framework provided by the Street Vendors Act, 2014, ensure procedural fairness in the regulation of street vending in Indian cities? 250 words · 24 July
  5. The Supreme Court has recently elevated the right to walk on footpaths to a fundamental right. Discuss the constitutional significance of this development in the context of urban governance and public health in India. 150 words · 21 July
  6. Urban planning in India has historically prioritized vehicular movement over pedestrian safety, leading to significant public health and road safety challenges. Critically analyze the need for a paradigm shift toward 'people-centric' urban design and the role of institutional policy in achieving this. 250 words · 21 July
  7. Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court's recognition of walking as a fundamental right in the context of urban planning and the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. 150 words · 12 July
  8. Urban infrastructure in India often faces a 'maintenance deficit'. Analyze how collaborative models between civil society organizations and local municipal bodies can bridge this gap to improve urban service delivery and public space management. 250 words · 12 July
  9. Discuss the constitutional significance of the right to walk as a fundamental aspect of urban planning and equitable access to public spaces in India. 150 words · 22 June
  10. The Supreme Court has recently emphasized the need for a statutory framework and a dedicated regulator to protect the rights of pedestrians. In this context, examine the role of urban local bodies as 'duty-bearers' and the necessity of balancing the needs of pedestrians with the requirements of motor transport under the principles of Article 39(b). 250 words · 22 June

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