The Allahabad High Court today gave three more weeks to the Uttar Pradesh government to file counter affidavits in a case relating to death of lions at Etawah lion safari.
The court had sought counter affidavits from the Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve into the death of lions at Etawah and two tigers at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve recently.
A division bench comprising justices Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Atta-u-Rahman Masoodi granted three weeks after the state counsel sought more time to file the replies.
It listed the matter for hearing thereafter.
The petitioner, a lawyer, had alleged that despite assurance by the state government, the Special Tiger Protection Force has still not been set up in Dudhwa, resulting in death of two tigers there.
He also raised concern over the declining population of lions at Etawah lion safari.
The petitioner alleged that four of the six lions died as not only were they shifted from their natural habitat to alien surroundings, but were also kept in poor hygiene and supervision.
Following the deaths, questions have been raised on the upkeep of the breeding centres and the manner in which lions were being kept.
"We are of the view that it is necessary for the state government to apprise the court of the steps taken in both the cases. Hence, we direct that a counter affidavit be filed in these proceedings both by the chief conservator of forests and the director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve," the court had said in its earlier order.
The court had also ordered an inspection by the CZA to assess whether the conditions at Etawah lion safari was conducive to the health and well-being of lions and also to ascertain whether necessary steps have been taken to preserve and safeguard the lions.
