India Supreme Court Expands Fundamental Rights and Consumer Protections

The Supreme Court of India issued a series of rulings that broaden legal protections and address institutional concerns. In Maniyar Iliyaz v. P. Ayyappan, the Court declared the right to walk on safe, demarcated footpaths a fundamental right under Part III of the Constitution. It also held that arbitration clauses cannot oust the jurisdiction of consumer forums, preserving statutory consumer remedies (T.K.A. Padmanabhan v. Abhiyan Coop. Group).

In a separate public‑interest litigation, the Court highlighted the constitutional issue of inadequate facilities for women advocates, calling attention to the lack of proper ladies’ bar rooms in court complexes and suggesting a Young Lawyers’ Professional Assistance Fund to curb brain‑drain. Additional judgments addressed procedural matters such as compensation versus injunctions, motor‑accident compensation, and the validity of multi‑expert panels in child‑custody cases, reflecting a broad sweep of legal reforms across civil, criminal, and administrative law.