India, April 9 -- In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to keep all footpaths free of obstructions and ensure they are maintained in a manner that is friendly to pedestrians, including senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The order, issued on April 7, came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by civic rights activist Qaneez-e-Fatimah Sukhrani in 2023, who highlighted widespread encroachments, unsafe footpaths, and barriers across the city that hamper pedestrian movement.

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik, observed: "There cannot be any doubt that it is the statutory responsibility of the PMC, in the m...