# Supreme Court declares right to walk a fundamental right 2026-08-09T10:09:33+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Supreme Court, in Maniyar Iliyaz v. P. Ayyappan, has ruled that unobstructed pedestrian movement is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The judgment reinforces the obligation of public authorities to keep footpaths free for safe walking and not force citizens onto roads. But the decision creates tension with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. That law explicitly allows regulated vending on footpaths, sidewalks and lanes, and municipalities routinely issue licences for such activity. Liveman Law reports that the Court has now set up a constitutional clash between the pedestrian's right to walk and the vendor's right to livelihood under Article 19(1)(g), both occupying the same physical space. ## Coverage - livelaw.in Tags: footpaths, fundamental rights, right to walk, street vending, Street Vendors Act 2014, Supreme Court Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/supreme-court-declares-right-to-walk-a-fundamental-right/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/supreme-court-declares-right-to-walk-a-fundamental-right/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.