Delhi government cannot pay compensation for any mishap in the National Zoological Park like the death of a youth mauled by a white tiger last year, the Delhi High Court was informed today.
The submission was made by the city government's forest department on an affidavit submitted before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw which is hearing a plea filed by the youth's wife seeking compensation of Rs 50 lakh.
The forest department said the Zoo was under the jurisdiction of the central government and thus, it is "not competent" to award compensation. "The petition be dismissed. The Delhi government is not competent for awarding the compensation to the petitioner," it said.
Earlier on December 18 last year, Delhi police had requested the court to dismiss the woman's plea saying the probe in the matter was pending.
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 on the basis of the plea filed by the deceased's wife who had claimed that the government was liable to pay 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 petition also said that the deceased was the only earning member in his family, including the wife, who was then seven months pregnant, and his 43 year old mother. Maqsood's father had deserted him and his family members 15 years ago.
The plea submitted the white tiger attacked Maqsood and dragged him away to the other end of enclosure and mauled him to death.
