Delhi tiger attack victim’s pregnant wife seeks Rs.50-lakh aid from govt

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, October 28, 2014:  The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response from the Centre, the National Zoological Park and the Delhi government on a plea seeking compensations worth Rs.50 lakh for the family members of a youth mauled to death recently by a white tiger in the zoo.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru also issued notice to the Central Zoo Authority, a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Delhi Police commissioner while directing them to file their counter affidavits within four weeks.

The court also asked an English news channel to respond before December 18 on the plea seeking direction to produce the video footage of the incident. The notices were issued while hearing the plea filed by Fatima, wife of the deceased, who alleged that 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 in Delhi on September 23.

The petitioner’s counsel Mohammed Faisal told the court that the deceased was the only earning member in his family that included his wife, who is seven months pregnant, his mother (43) and an 18-year-old brother. The counsel said that Maqsood’s father had deserted him and his family members 15 years ago.

The plea stated that the white tiger attacked Maqsood and dragged him away to the other end of enclosure and mauled him to death. His lifeless body was then dragged around for some time before the tiger lost interest. However, the zoo authorities did not take a single step to save him even as they had sufficient time of around 15-20 minutes before the attack. Moreover, there were also serious safety and security lapses on the part of the zoo authorities, it alleged.

Courtesy: Indiatoday