Centre must ensure every road has encroachment-free space for walking: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to ensure that all roads have properly demarcated, encroachment-free spaces for pedestrians. This directive follows a significant verdict where the Supreme Court held that the right to walk on a demarcated footpath is a fundamental right, falling under Article 19(1)(d) (right to movement) and Article 21 (right to life and liberty). The court emphasized that pedestrian space should be clearly separated from motor vehicle lanes and given priority.