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Informist, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed state governments to formulate and notify rules within six months to regulate the activities and access of non-mechanically propelled vehicles, pedestrians in public places and national highways. The states should also notify rules on design, construction, and maintenance of standards for roads other than national highways, the apex court said.

 

In a measure to ensure pedestrian safety, the top court ordered the National Highways Authority of India and other agencies to conduct an audit of existing footpaths. The audit should identify deficiencies in the existing footpaths, including width, height, and surface and determine remedial measures, the court said. They should establish a timeline for addressing the deficiencies. 

 

The court directed an audit of existing pedestrian crossings, with a focus on the requirement for traffic calming measures and the illumination of pedestrian crossings at night. Road dividers should be placed in a manner to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road at any other place, the court said.

 

The court asked the state governments and other authorities to create an online grievance redressal mechanism regarding footpaths, which would include complaints of encroachments, maintenance issues, and suggestions for pedestrian crossings. Further, the District Road Safety Committees should mandatorily address pedestrian safety issues in their monthly meetings, the court added.

 

The court directed state governments, union territories and the highways authority to strictly implement the provisions of law relating to wearing helmets by two-wheeler drivers and passengers. Strict enforcement of these rules should be ensured through electronic enforcement mechanisms, such as cameras at various locations, the court said. The number of persons penalised, the amounts recovered from fines, and the licenses suspended should be reported to the court, it said.

 

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, state transport departments and traffic police authorities should prescribe maximum permissible luminance and beam angles for vehicle headlights and ensure compliance through checks during pollution testing and vehicle fitness certification, the court said. A complete ban on unauthorised red–blue strobe flashing lights and illegal hooters should be enforced through crackdowns and penalties, the court added.

 

The bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan was hearing a plea by S. Rajaseekaran, a leading orthopaedic surgeon, seeking the court's direction on road safety. The petitioner was anguished by the loss of life and limb caused by the ever-increasing number of road accidents in the country and the utter callous and casual attitude of the states towards such accidents.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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