Proper mechanism in place to ensure safety in zoo: govt to HC

The Centre today told the Delhi High Court that a proper mechanism, including quick response teams and additional signages, have been put in place to ensure safety of visitors in the zoo here.
The submissions were made before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath which was hearing a petition seeking a direction to the authorities to take steps to ensure that incident like the one that had happened in the Delhi zoo when a youth was mauled by a white tiger in 2014 is repeated.
The Centre told the bench that quick response teams have been formed to deal with any such situation inside the zoo and additional signages giving details of dos and don'ts have been put in place near the cage of dangerous animals.

After hearing the Centre's submission, the bench disposed of the plea.
Meanwhile, the bench reserved its order on a separate plea filed by the deceased's wife who had claimed that government was liable to pay compensation for their "act of negligence and safety and security lapses which resulted in the tragic death of 22-year-old Maqsood" on September 23, 2014.
During the hearing on the plea, the counsel appearing for the petitioner claimed that there were "serious lapses" on the part of zoo authorities that had led to the incident.

"We will consider this," the bench said and reserved its order on the plea.

Delhi Police had earlier requested the bench to dismiss the woman's plea saying the probe in the matter was pending.
The woman had, in her petition, said the victim was the only earning member in his family.
She had sought compensation of Rs 50 lakh from the Centre, National Zoological Park, Delhi government, Central Zoo Authority, a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Delhi Police Commissioner.