The Union and the Delhi Governments were on Wednesday directed by the Delhi High Court to respond to a plea seeking penal actions against a sitting MLA for allegedly encroaching upon Government land and running an illegal zoo on it.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw issued notices to the Urban Development Ministry, the Commissioner of Police and the DDA and sought their replies by March 21 on a petition which alleged that Asif Mohammed Khan, the sitting MLA from Okhla, has illegally encroached upon five bigha of DDA land at Jasola village in Southeast Delhi and is running a zoo there.

The court sought a status report from the land-owning agency by the next date of hearing. The petition was filed by one Kamran Siddiqui, who sought registration of a criminal case against the legislator on charges of criminal trespass and encroachment of land.

Accusing the MLA of misusing his power, the petitioner said the court should direct the police to take action against him as he violated the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and also the Wild Life Protection Act.