The court was hearing a petition filed by environmentalist Subhas Dutta, alleging that the state government had failed to act in compliance with the court’s September 28 order.

Delivering the final order in the “Save Victoria” case, the HC had imposed a ban on the use of open ovens within three kilometres of the historic structure. The court also ruled that no car should be parked within three kilometres of Victoria Memorial.

But the police, in its affidavit, said it had not been able to stop the use of open ovens that day because of the huge crowd assembled at the rally. But a Division Bench of Justices Bhaskar Bhattacharya and RN Banerjee who were hearing the case, refused to accept the argument put forward by the state.

The affidavit also said the traffic arrangements by the police notwithstanding, several vehicles were found parked indiscriminately around the Victoria Memorial. The drivers of those vehicles were apprised of the court order through the public address system. But they did not listen to the traffic policemen and parked their vehicles adjacent to the structure, Kolkata Police stated in its affidavit.