DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 2 (MExN): Forest Minister MC Konyak categorically reiterated on Friday, September 2 that Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Rangapahar is public property and do not belong to any private individual whatsoever. The Minister was in Dimapur today to discuss matters arising out of Thursday’s incident wherein some persons trying to encroach inside the state’s only zoological park attacked the official residence of the officer incharge of NZP at Forest colony, Dimapur.
The meeting was attended by Chief Wildlife Warden, Director of NZP, the Superintendent of Police, and the Deputy Commissioner besides other department officials. The sources quoted the Minister as saying that the officer whose residence was attacked was only doing bonafide government duty and not pursuing any private activity at the park. Terming the action as unbecoming of a civilized society, the Minister urged the administration and the police to seriously pursue the case; arrest and book the culprits under relevant section of the law to set an example. The Minister also urged the public to cooperate with the department in its maintenance and protection.
According to the sources the Minister assured that manpower and security infrastructure will be enhanced at the park while armed police personnel are already stationed at the venue following Thursday’s incident.
There is a standing order from the court of the District & Sessions Judge, Dimapur: “to maintain status quo over the suit land as of today, till further order in the interest of justice and fair play”, which was issued on February 26, 2010. This order was passed in response to a PIL filed by 19 petitioners earlier the same month, who are claiming land inside the park. The department of Forests in response to the PIL also filed a caveat petition. However, the department’s officials claim that the court went ahead and issued an order that ‘status quo’ be maintained without weighing the caveat petition of the department.
According to law, a court must first hear the case of both parties before coming to a conclusion or any ruling, or must bring to the notice of the party concerned against which a suit or PIL has been filed by the other contending party. In this case this legal protocol was not adhered to.
The group of people who were involved in Thursday’s incident is also believed to include the same people who were arrested on August 29 for encroaching into the park. The nine persons arrested that day included women as well. According to sources, they were released the next day after signing a ‘good behaviour bond’.
The meeting was attended by Chief Wildlife Warden, Director of NZP, the Superintendent of Police, and the Deputy Commissioner besides other department officials. The sources quoted the Minister as saying that the officer whose residence was attacked was only doing bonafide government duty and not pursuing any private activity at the park. Terming the action as unbecoming of a civilized society, the Minister urged the administration and the police to seriously pursue the case; arrest and book the culprits under relevant section of the law to set an example. The Minister also urged the public to cooperate with the department in its maintenance and protection.
According to the sources the Minister assured that manpower and security infrastructure will be enhanced at the park while armed police personnel are already stationed at the venue following Thursday’s incident.
There is a standing order from the court of the District & Sessions Judge, Dimapur: “to maintain status quo over the suit land as of today, till further order in the interest of justice and fair play”, which was issued on February 26, 2010. This order was passed in response to a PIL filed by 19 petitioners earlier the same month, who are claiming land inside the park. The department of Forests in response to the PIL also filed a caveat petition. However, the department’s officials claim that the court went ahead and issued an order that ‘status quo’ be maintained without weighing the caveat petition of the department.
According to law, a court must first hear the case of both parties before coming to a conclusion or any ruling, or must bring to the notice of the party concerned against which a suit or PIL has been filed by the other contending party. In this case this legal protocol was not adhered to.
The group of people who were involved in Thursday’s incident is also believed to include the same people who were arrested on August 29 for encroaching into the park. The nine persons arrested that day included women as well. According to sources, they were released the next day after signing a ‘good behaviour bond’.
