A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar has, in its judgment (Maniyar Iliyaz@Shaik Riyaz versus P. Ayyappan), said a footpath’s relevance is more than that of a narrow strip of land where the ‘less-fortunate’ ones take cover from being knocked down by vehicles speeding on multi-lane motorways.

Justice Narasimha’s judgment divorces the footpath from the theme of motor accidents. The sole objective of a footpath is not to avoid accidents. The pathways have an identity and a greater purpose of their own.