Shivani Gadhavi
Published On: February 01, 2022
Calcutta High Court on January 31, 2022 directed the Kolkata Police and relevant Authorities to submit a report on the matter regarding 600-700 trespassers entering the premises of the Kolkata Zoological Garden.
The Calcutta High Court Single-Judge Bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha was hearing a Petition filed by one Rakesh Kumar Singh, a leader from the Bhartiya Janata Party. The Petitioner had alleged that on January 24, 2022 around 600-700 trespassers had entered the premises of the Kolkata Zoological Garden.
The Petitioner also mentioned that some of the trespassers had weapons and firearms with them when they entered the zoo. The Petitioner also stated that the trespassers are still present inside the zoo.
The issue is related to the Employees Trade Union, as there are 80 permanent employees of the zoo and out of that, 74 members are from the Trade Union known as ‘Kolkata Zoological Garden Employees Association’. The majority members of the Trade Union belong to a political party. In this regard, to take over the Trade Union, a rival political party barged into the zoo.
The Calcutta High Court Bench in this regard stated that “This Court is inclined to know from the police as to steps taken pursuant to the complaints received, inter alia, from the petitioner, the Zoo Management on the adjourned date, and one Poonam Thapa.”
The Bench also ordered that “The Director of Zoo, shall inspect the entire Zoo premises today and tomorrow and submit a report of what he sees including the outsiders.” Furthermore, the Bench added, “The video footage of CC TV Camera, from 23rd January, 2022 till 28th January, 2022 shall be examined and a detailed report shall be submitted by the Police.
The Bench directed that “A separate report shall also come from the Zoo Management after scrutiny of the CC TV Footage at their end.” The Bench then adjourned the matter and has listed the same on February 2, 2022.
