Right to Safe Roads as a Part of Right to Life: Supreme Court Judgment

Why in the News?

In a significant expansion of fundamental rights, the Supreme Court of India ruled in August 2025 that access to safe, motorable, and well-maintained roads is an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Key Legal Pronouncements

The Bench, comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, linked the quality of infrastructure to constitutional guarantees:

• Article 21 (Right to Life): The Court held that “life” is not merely physical existence but includes the right to live with dignity, which is hindered by poor and unsafe road conditions.
• Article 19(1)(d): The right to move freely throughout the territory of India is a basic right. The Court noted that this right becomes “illusory” if the state fails to provide motorable roads.
• State Responsibility: The judgment explicitly stated that it is the mandatory responsibility of the State to develop and maintain roads under its control.

Case Background

The ruling emerged from a dispute between Umri Pooph Pratappur (UPP) Tollways Private Limited and the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation Limited (MPRDC).

• The Project: A ‘Build, Operate, and Transfer’ (BOT) agreement for a 43.7-km road project in Madhya Pradesh worth ₹73.68 crore.
• The Shift: While the case was a commercial dispute over a concession agreement, the Court used the platform to emphasize the public interest aspect of infrastructure.