Summary: The Supreme Court of India, in Maniyar Iliyaz v. P. Ayyappan, declared the right to walk on footpaths alongside roads a fundamental right under the Part III of the Constitution, prioritising pedestrian movement over vehicles. The case originated from a fatal accident on a road lacking pedestrian infrastructure, prompting the SC to mandate civic bodies to ensure demarcated footpaths. The SC recognised legislative gaps and called for statutory frameworks and a full-time regulator. While progressive, the ruling raises practical questions about implementation, enforcement, and balancing competing urban interests, emphasising that the real impact depends on tangible improvements to pedestrian safety.