Published Jul 12, 2026 | 2:51 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 12, 2026 | 2:51 PM
Ernakulam, 6 July: A teashop near Aluva Market has its seats on the footpath, forcing pedestrians to find alternatives.
Synopsis: Pedestrians, perhaps the largest unorganised section of citizens, are deprived of footpaths — pavements to walk safely and with dignity. The Supreme Court has now asserted that the right to walk on safe, demarcated footpaths is a fundamental right under the rights to free movement and life. But are the footpaths in your city available for pedestrians?
“Tea, Coffee, Tiffin, Juice, Sharbat and No Parking!”
This tea-stall operator has placed an advertisement that also “bans” vehicle parking. But he has his customers conveniently “parked” on chairs and benches placed on the footpath, hindering the free movement of pedestrians.
Incidentally, a Kerala High Court Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas had in June 2026 passed an order, upholding the citizen’s fundamental right to walk safely and freely. The judgement came in a case concerning the setting up of kiosks on Queen’s Walkway in Kochi.
Has the court order been implemented outside Queen’s Walkway? No, says this photograph, Sreelakshmi Soman clicked from near the Aluva Market.
Ernakulam, 6 July: A teashop near Aluva Market has its seating arrangements on the footpath, forcing pedestrians to find alternatives.
Join South First’s Reclaim Footpaths campaign. If you see a footpath that is encroached on or damaged, share a photo and details (location, date) with us at +91 8341082462. We will flag it to the authorities responsible for fixing it.
Also See: Literacy is not civic sense in Thiruvananthapuram
