Chandigarh: Sangrur Member of Parliament and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent ruling recognising pedestrians’ right to use footpaths as a fundamental right, describing it as a landmark judgment that strengthens the constitutional guarantee of safe and dignified mobility for all citizens.
Meet Hayer said the verdict reinforces concerns he had earlier raised in Parliament regarding the safety and rights of pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised road users on National Highways.
He recalled that on July 31 last year, he had raised the issue through a question in the Lok Sabha, seeking clarification from the Union government on whether it recognised the right of pedestrians and cyclists to safe mobility on National Highways and what measures were being taken to ensure their safety.
Expressing disappointment over the Centre’s response at the time, Meet Hayer said the government had failed to clearly recognise safe mobility as a right and had not presented any concrete roadmap for creating safe infrastructure for pedestrians on highways.
“Despite the seriousness of the issue, the response was limited to references to existing guidelines, surveys and road safety audits without clearly acknowledging the rights of pedestrians,” he said.
The AAP MP noted that the Supreme Court has now categorically held that the right to walk is a fundamental right protected under the Constitution, a recognition he said should have come much earlier from policymakers.
According to Meet Hayer, the ruling offers fresh hope to millions of pedestrians, cyclists, senior citizens, women, children and persons with disabilities across the country. He said the judgment would encourage authorities to design roads and public infrastructure with people, rather than vehicles alone, at the centre of planning.
He added that future infrastructure projects should prioritise footpaths, safe crossings and other facilities essential for vulnerable road users.
The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice A.S. Chandurkar observed that the right to walk is an integral part of the freedom of movement guaranteed under Article 19(1)(d) and is protected under the fundamental rights framework of the Constitution, including Article 21.
The court’s observations are being seen as a significant step towards promoting safer, more inclusive and pedestrian-friendly urban infrastructure across India.
