Panaji, June 20: In a press note issued on Saturday, Enough is Enough Goa welcomed the landmark Supreme Court judgment declaring the right to walk safely on demarcated footpaths as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Constitution and called for immediate action against encroachments on public pedestrian spaces in Goa.

The statement, issued by EIE core member Elvis Gomes, said the verdict serves as a major victory for public safety while exposing the failure of successive Goa governments to protect pedestrian rights from powerful commercial interests.

The movement noted that Goa’s judiciary had set an important precedent nearly three decades ago when the Bombay High Court at Goa, in Public Interest Litigation No. 148/97, delivered a progressive judgment aimed at safeguarding footpaths and removing encroachments. The bench was headed by Justice Ferdino Rebello, who currently leads the Enough is Enough Goa movement.

According to the press note, despite the landmark 1997 judgment, successive governments have failed to uphold pedestrian rights. The movement alleged that authorities have permitted casino operators in Panaji to occupy public jetties and footpaths, converting them into reception lounges, valet parking areas and customer holding zones while creating traffic congestion in no-parking areas.

Recalling his tenure as Commissioner of the City Corporation of Panaji, Gomes stated that court directives once provided administrators with strong legal support to resist political pressure and act against illegal encroachments.

“Municipal officials regularly face intense political pressure to overlook illegalities. The 1997 High Court judgment gave officers the legal backing to resist interference and act in the interest of public safety. Today, however, public footpaths along the riverfront are being treated as private property by casino operators,” Gomes said in the statement.

He added that the Supreme Court verdict has now established clear accountability, making public authorities legally liable for injuries or harm caused due to unsafe pedestrian infrastructure and encroachments.

Through the press note, Enough is Enough Goa demanded that the Goa Government and the Corporation of the City of Panaji immediately revoke all permissions that compromise pedestrian safety. The movement also called for the removal of all casino-related structures and commercial encroachments on Panaji’s footpaths and urged authorities to prevent the misuse of no-parking zones.

The organisation said strict implementation of the Supreme Court judgment is necessary to restore and protect the fundamental right of citizens to walk safely in public spaces.