HC seeks response from zoo authorities on PIL seeking safety

The Delhi High Court today sought response from the central and the city zoo authorities on a PIL seeking directions to them to ensure safety and security of people after a youth was mauled to death by a tiger in its enclosure in the zoo here.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked the Director of Delhi Zoo, the Central Zoo Authority and the Commissioner of Delhi Police to file their counter affidavits within four weeks.
The court has now listed the matter for further hearing on December 17.
The court had on September 26 issued notice to the respondents, saying the matter "requires consideration".

The bench, which was hearing the PIL filed in wake of the death of 22-year-old Maqsood in the Delhi Zoo after he fell into a white tiger's enclosure on September 23, had asked the petitioner to involve tiger conservationist Valmik Thapar for his suggestions on the issues raised in the petition.
The PIL, filed by advocate Avadh Kaushik, alleged that it was criminal negligence on the part of the zoo authorities because of which Maqsood lost his life and sought direction from the court to the authorities concerned to put all contingency and emergency equipments in place and ensure the safety and security of the zoo visitors.

"Life of a young person has been lost just because the authorities, on whom there is a responsibility to take protective measures in the zoo, have failed to discharge their duties and/or they have no emergency/contingency plans to rescue the people from such untoward incident," it had said.
It had also sought a direction to the authorities to file a report on the incident and compensate the bereaved family.