As per the HC order of September last year, the state government was required to shift the Esplanade bus terminus within six months. The order aimed to reduce vehicular emission in the area and protect the Victoria Memorial from air pollution.

Dutta argued before the HC on Thursday that the state government had failed to shift the terminus. Subsequently, the state’s counsel informed the Bench that the Supreme Court had stayed its order. The state government had challenged the HC order before the apex court, and in March the SC had granted the stay.

After the hearing, Dutta told the media that he would file a petition against the stay order. He said that the state did not serve any notice to him before the hearing in the Supreme Court. He claimed that since he was a petitioner in the case, he should have been informed about it. Instead, he came to know about the stay order during today’s hearing. The Bench also asked Dutta to file a fresh petition explaining how the state government did not carry out its orders. The court directed him not to include the issue of shifting the bus terminus in the petition.