A ground reality no one cares about

On June 19, the Supreme Court ruled that the right to walk safely on footpaths is a fundamental right. A two-judge bench of Justices P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar said this right was integral to the freedom of movement guaranteed under Article 19(1)(d), read alongside Articles 19(1)(a), (b), (c), and Ar ticle 21 of the Constitution. The court made some strong remarks as well: “If a road exists, there must then be a duty to ensure that a footpath is demarcated and maintained for the walkers. This is an enforceable duty.” The judges emphasised the primacy of this right, as well. “The fundamental right to walk on demarcated footpaths shall override the privilege of a motorised vehicle. 

In one stroke, the bench overturned a presumption by motorists that had assumed the garb of a legal right. Walkers have always been the most vulnerable road users. Official records show that over 1.8 lakh pedestrians died across India between 2019 and 2024: an average of more than 80 a day. Bengaluru, which never loses a chance to boast of its global tech-hub status, is notorious for its pavements. They are either non existent, broken, or encroached upon. At one level, the Supreme Court judgment vindicated a truism that only state authorities were oblivious to. At another, the judges lobbed a stark ground reality into the national consciousness, standing in sharp contrast to the triumphant proclamations of achievement by our governments.

Is it not shameful that while we gloat over every thing from our ancient value systems to our modern technological prowess, we cannot provide pavements for safe walking? Though the apex court judgment received wide publicity across mainstream and social media, it drew barely any comment from politicians or bureaucrats .The judges noted, “It could also be elitism to start with, for machines with wheels were only for the rich, but as economies progressed... motorized transportation dominated the roads, pushed aside the walkers to the extent that they are treated as a nuisance for the drivers who routinely run over the walkers and their footpaths.”

The lack of reaction from state authorities reflects a widespread elitist disdain for the basic necessities of common citizens, who are remembered only in the run-up to elections. When was the last time political parties held rallies demanding basic civic amenities? The judges have set the ball rolling. Offering a sliver of hope, the court directed copies of the judgment to be sent to the Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Rural Development, and Road Transport and Highways, as a first step towards framing a law to protect pedestrians.