HYDERABAD, Oct 7: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, here on Thursday banned purchase of new animals for Rani Bagh (municipal zoo) unless the existing cages for different species of animals were repaired.

Hearing a constitutional petition, the bench, comprising Justice Attaur Rehman and Justice Amir Hani Muslim, ordered the officials of the Taluka Municipal Administration, Qasimabad, to repair the cages and make them spacious.

The petition was jointly filed by two residents, Kaleemullah and Aijaz Lashari, through lawyer Ayaz Latif Palijo. Deploring the conditions in the zoo, the bench observed that animals were not keeping good because their cages were not spacious.

Dr Arif informed the court that he had brought to the notice of authorities concerned for the expansion of cages but no action had been taken by them. The TMA should first reconstruct or repair the cages by making them spacious and improve facilities for these animals and also maintain lawns in Rani Bagh only then they could be allowed to develop other parks or purchase new animals, the order said.

The bench regretted that there was no place for recreation of a common man in the city and no government functionary had ever given serious thought to provide residents and their families such recreation which was their fundamental right.

The TMO informed that the court that he had not brought the month wise details of the expenditures incurred on Rani Bagh. He filed formal comments without giving details of development schemes which the TMA intended to undertake during the current fiscal year.

The TMO and taluka officer (infrastructures) in their comments said that the TMA had allocated Rs800,000 for purchase of new animals in the zoo and animals were being looked after properly as they were provided with proper food and medical facilities including shelter.

Rejecting petitioners claim that cages were in a bad condition and efforts were not made for repair, the respondents said, they were very old but were not unfit for keeping animals.

The bench directed the TMO to submit a detailed report before the court on Oct 14, incorporating day to day expenditures and income of Rani Bagh including expenditures on different species of animals.

The court ordered that expenditures incurred by the TMA would be accounted for by additional registrar, Ghulam Mustafa Channo, till further orders.