ORDER :

1. Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today by the Counsel for the petitioner be taken on record.

2. The issue concerns the Kolkata Zoological Garden maintained by the Government of India. On 24th January, 2022 about 600-700 persons are stated to have forcefully entered the Zoo premises.

3. The Zoo was not open for the public due to the Corona Pandemic.

4. Admittedly there are about 80 permanent employees in the Zoo and about 130 temporary employees in the Alipore Zoo. There is only one Trade Union having 74 members called "Kolkata Zoological Garden Employees Association". The majority members are affiliated to one political party as confirmed by the Zoo Authorities. Counsel for the State disputes the same.

5. Upon receiving information of a likely attack by the rival political group to take over the Employees Trade Union, the petitioner and the employees warned the Management and Police but in vain.

6. It is submitted that on the fateful date, a group of about 600-700 persons some of them with firearms and weapons, barged into the Alipore Zoo primarily through its main gate after breaking open its padlocks. Others jumped in over the surrounding walls. It is further submitted th