SC refuses to entertain a plea seeking mandatory cycle tracks across India, says, “...people do not have basic facilities of housing and medicines, we are daydreaming…”
Today (February 10, 2025), the Supreme Court (SC) bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a plea seeking mandatory cycle tracks and footpaths across India. The top court bench refused to entertain the plea stating that people do not have basic facilities of housing and medicines, we are daydreaming by saying that every city should have cycle tracks. The petitioner submitted that he was seeking directions for ‘non-motorized transport ways’ including pedestrians and cyclists. He further claimed that about 60% of the population using roads would benefit from ‘non-motorized transport ways’.
While hearing the matter, Justice Oka said, “Such reliefs can never be granted. How is it possible? You are treating India with a European country that every city should be having a cycle track.” Adding to this, Justice Bhuyan said, “We can't compare India with Netherlands.” It said that we have to set our priorities right. Justice Oka said, “Go to a city like Mumbai. The first issue is housing. Housing, medical facilities, these are the things which should get priority. Today, there is a reported judgment of the Bombay High Court saying that 26% of the Police force stay in slums, because they have no houses.”
Justice Oka added, “Go to any slum, find out the conditions in which people are staying. States do not have money to take care of slum dwellers, States cannot give affordable housing. And now we are daydreaming, when people don't have basic facilities of housing and medicines, we are daydreaming by saying that every city should have cycle tracks.” He said, “Our priorities are going wrong. A person who is earning a salary of 20,000, if he is transferred to Mumbai or Pune, he will have to stay in slums. That is the issue we are facing. And we are talking about haves - those who can afford to have cycle tracks in every city. Ultimately, we have to give the right priorities. People don't get water, Municipal schools are closing down. And we are talking about cycle tracks!”
Showing reluctance to hear the plea, Justice Oka opined, “These are the matters where High Courts should deal with. Some states are in hilly terrain. How can we have cycling tracks there? It is too tall a claim to be made in a PIL.” Further arguing, the petitioner claimed that most of the cycles are used by poor people. After hearing the contentions, the SC ordered, “As far as construction of cycle tracks are concerned, all major cities in India, without exception, have issue of providing affordable houses, issue of providing basic facilities like medical treatment, education at a reasonable cost. Apart from that, issues of sanitation and solid waste management are issues faced by all cities in India.” Lastly, the top court disposed of the petition and granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the High Court noting that the issue of cycle tracks is best addressed by the respective High Courts due to different conditions in each state.
