Delhi HC directs authorities to take steps to appoint adequate staff in zoo to take care of animals
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed the authorities to take steps for appointing adequate staff at the National Zoo to take care of animals.
A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad termed as "genuine" the prayer made in a petition which sought to direct the authorities to fill up vacant posts of zoo keepers, assistant keepers, attendants, food distributor and chowkidar.
The plea also sought direction to the authorities to install proper medical equipment and diagnostic facilities and to set up a committee to investigate the death of animals at the National Zoological Park.
"The prayer seems to be genuine. The respondents are directed to take all possible steps to cure the deficiencies and also to appoint staff in the Zoo and pass a detailed speaking order with respect to the representation within two months. The PIL is accordingly disposed of," the high court said.
The court passed the direction to the Central Zoo Authority, Director of the National Zoological Park, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Animal Welfare Board of India.
Petitioner Salek Chand Jain, through advocate J K Gupta, said due to lack of medical staff, animal keeper and non-availability of medical equipment and diagnostic facilities, the death rate of animals at the zoo was too high.
He claimed there is a huge shortage of staff at the zoo which is working with only 72 employees, including one veterinary officer, against 203 sanctioned posts.
"During the period of April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, there were causalities of 172 animals/ birds and from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, there were causalities of 124 animals/ birds," the plea said.
It added that for the period from September 20, 2019 to December 18, 2022, 9 big cats species (white tigers, lion, lioness, jaguar and tigers) and their 3 cubs died.
"It was very shocking but the respondents never cared to set up a committee to investigate the cause of death of the big cats and their cubs," the plea alleged.
The petitioner said he made several representations to the authorities for filling the vacancies, providing medical equipment and diagnostic facilities and for setting up an enquiry into the untimely death of animals in large numbers but did not get any response.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Accused gunman at correspondents' dinner was believed to be targeting top officials, Blanche says
Washington (AP): The accused gunman who tried to storm the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner with guns and knives travelled across the country before the event and is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday.
Blanche also said officials believe the suspect traveled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington, where in recent days he checked in as a guest to the hotel where one of Washington's glitziest events was being held Saturday night.
Investigators have not publicly named the suspect, but two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter have identified him to The Associated Press as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California.
Law enforcement officials who have examined the gunman's electronic devices and his writings preliminarily believe he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner. He attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a chaotic scene that resulted in shots being fired, President Donald Trump being hurried off the stage and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.
“It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president,” Blanche told NBC's “Meet the Press.”
The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Blanche said. He is not being cooperative and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday.
Video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said. The gunman was taken into custody and was not injured, but was being evaluated at a hospital, police said.
“He failed,” Blanche said on CBS's “Face the Nation.” “Law enforcement did their jobs.”
Social media posts that appear to match the suspect show he is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer.
A May 2025 profile photo of Allen appears to match the appearance of the man in a photo of the alleged attacker being taken into custody that was posted Saturday night by Trump. The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Allen earned a bachelor's degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He listed his involvement there in a Christian student fellowship and a campus group that battled with Nerf guns.
The shooting at the security barricades happened minutes after the event got underway.
The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the room as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. Gasps echoed through the ballroom as guests realized something was happening. Hundreds of journalists immediately got on phones to call in information.
“Out of the way, sir!” someone yelled. Others yelled to duck. From one corner, a “God Bless America” chant began as the president was escorted offstage. Outside the hotel, members of the National Guard and other authorities flooded the area as helicopters circled overhead.
After an initial attempt to resume the event, it was scrapped for the night and will be rescheduled.
_vb_69.jpeg)
