Karnataka High Court refuses to interfere with GBA’s safe lanes campaign

Karnataka High Court View | Photo credit: File Photo

The Karnataka High Court on Friday refused to interfere with the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) Safe Footpath Campaign, while observing that the initiative is aimed at ensuring free space for pedestrians on footpaths.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice KS Hemalekha made these observations while hearing a PIL petition filed by Bengaluru-based R. Rajgopalan, a former advisor to the board and an environmentalist, raising a number of issues related to pavements, including the welfare of street vendors.

‘Space to Walk’

Although the Bench ordered the issuance of a notice to the government on the petitioner’s plea for effective implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, it rejected his objection to the manner in which the Safe Path campaign is being conducted, pointing out that “the campaign is designed to provide space for pedestrians to walk”.

The Bench also pointed out that the court itself, in earlier proceedings pending judgment, had issued directions for cleaning footpaths.

Meanwhile, the Bench directed the government to submit a status report on the implementation of the Street Vendors Act, while adjourning the next hearing to December 3.

Published – 28 Aug 2026 19:46 IST