Supreme Court Orders States to Frame Rules on Pedestrian Movement, Non

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered all States and Union Territories (UTs) to frame rules within six months on road safety by regulating the movement of non-motorised vehicles (cycles, hand carts and so on) and pedestrians in public spaces, and by monitoring construction and maintenance of roads (S Rajaseekaran vs. Union of India and Others). A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan directed all States and UTs to frame such rules under Sections 138 (1A) and 210D of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MV Act). These provisions were inserted in the MV Act by way of a 2019 amendment . Section 138(1A) of the MV Act empowers States to make road safety rules to regulate the movement of non-mechanically propelled vehicles and pedestrians in public places. It adds that