Observing that the video clip of the white tiger attacking a 22-year-old man at the Delhi Zoo was “very disturbing”, the Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Central and Delhi Zoo authorities on a PIL seeking directions to create “contingent and emergency equipment” in the Delhi Zoo and punish officials concerned for their “negligence”. “Young life has been lost just because the authorities. have failed to discharge their duties and/or they have no emergency/contingency plans to rescue people from such an untoward incident,” a PIL by advocate Avadh Kaushik said. The PIL was mentioned before the High Court on Thursday and was heard by the court of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw on Friday. During the brief hearing, the court asked the counsels for the Delhi Zoo to give a detailed response on contingency plans in place and whether there are any guidelines for handling such incidents. The court has issued notice to the Director of Delhi Zoo, Central Zoo Authority and Commissioner of Delhi Police and sought their reply by October 29, saying that the matter “requires consideration”. The PIL alleged that there was criminal negligence on the part of the zoo authorities because of which the youth, Maqsood, lost his life. The PIL also sought directions to the authorities to file a report on the incident and compensate Maqsood’s family.
