A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court led by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and comprising Justice A.V. Sesha Sai directed the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and the Forest Department to take necessary measures for the safety of pilgrims reaching the hill shrine through the footpath from Alipiri.
Also, the Bench called for information from TTD on the steps taken in the wake of the death of six -year-old girl Lakshita in a leopard attack, and posted the case for further hearing after three weeks.
The court was hearing a writ petition filed by BJP leader and TTD Trust Board former member G. Bhanu Prakash Reddy in public interest for the erection of a 10-feet high iron fence wherever required on both sides of the footpath to prevent the entry of wild animals, and payment of a compensation of ₹1 crore to the family of Lakshita who was mauled to death by a leopard on August 11, 2023.
