Tripura government suspends chief conservator of forests: IFS Officer Prabin Lal Agarwal, for naming zoo lion and lioness as Akbar and Sita, offending religious sentiments. After Calcutta High Court reacted to VHP’s petition claiming offense hurting Religious sentiments. The High Court urged West Bengal to consider changing the names of the lions from Sita and Akbar; and to find out who kept the names and take action against the individuals involved in it.
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TRIPURA and WEST BENGAL: The Tripura government took action on Saturday (24 Feb) by suspending Prabin Lal Agrawal, the state’s principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife and ecotourism), amidst a controversy arising from the naming of a zoo lion and lioness as Akbar and Sita, respectively.
According to a report, a 1994-batch IFS officer who held the position of Tripura’s chief wildlife warden, recorded the names Akbar and Sita for the lion pair in the dispatch register before their transfer to Siliguri.
The suspension followed a complaint filed by the VHP to the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the names had caused offense to religious sentiments. A lion named ‘Akbar’ and a lioness named ‘Sita’ were relocated from Tripura’s Sepahijala Zoological Park to the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri on February 12.
Advocate Subhankar Dutta, representing the VHP, conveyed,
“The court expressed its displeasure over the naming…”
and mentioned that the matter would soon be presented before a regular bench of the High Court.
Earlier, on February 22, a judge of the Calcutta High Court remarked orally,
“An animal should not be named after any deity or figure belonging to any religion.”
The judge emphasized that India is a secular nation, with every community entitled to uphold their religious beliefs.
“Why should you invite controversy by naming a lioness and a lion after Sita and Akbar?”
-questioned the judge, highlighting Sita’s significance among a large section of citizens and acknowledging Akbar as a successful and secular Mughal emperor. Justice Bhattacharya expressed disapproval of the names chosen for both animals.
“As the hearing concludes, please strive to avoid controversy and instruct your officers to rename these animals… Choose a name that doesn’t stir controversy. Avoid naming any animal after Hindu gods, Muslim prophets, Christians, Nobel laureates, or freedom fighters. Generally, names of those revered and respected should be avoided,”
-added the Court.
The North Bengal unit of the parishad disclosed that they learned through media reports that a lion and lioness, identified as IL26 and IL27 respectively, had been received at the Bengali Safari Park under an animal exchange program, with the lioness being named “Sita.”
PREVIOUS REPORTS ON THE CASE
Calcutta High Court: “Will You Name Your Pet After Hindu God or Muslim Prophet?”
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