The city police today requested the Delhi High Court to dismiss a plea seeking compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the family members of a youth who was mauled to death recently by a tiger in the zoo here, saying the probe in the matter is pending and the action will be taken as per law.
A senior official from the police department in its affidavit filed before Justice Vibhu Bakhru said that in "the interest of justice" the plea filed by the deceased' wife Fatima be rejected with "cost".
"In the interest of justice... This court may be pleased to dismiss the present writ petition of the petitioners with cost as the investigation of the case is still pending.
"Appropriate legal action will be taken as per the law. Thus, the matter is fit to be dismissed as it is devoid of any merit and it involves no question of law," the affidavit filed by Delhi Police said.
It further said that as per the inspection of the Medico Legal case (MLC), deadbody and the circumstances, offences under section 304 of the IPC was made out and an FIR was registered in this regard.
The police reply was filed after the court had on October 27 sought responses 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 within four weeks.
The notices were issued while hearing the plea filed by the deceased' wife who alleged the government is liable to pay them the compensation for their "act of negligence, safety and security lapses which resulted into the tragic death of 22-year-old Maqsood who was mauled to death by a white tiger at National Zoological Park here on September 23".
The police in their affidavit also said that a letter has also been sent to the Editor of the TV channel to provide the details of eye witnesses of the incident, if any available with them, and to provide the details of the maker/supplier of the video clip in which the incident was recorded.
