Acting on the appeal filed by the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organisers of the fair, the Bench led by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan sought to know why the annual book fair in Park Circus Maidan could not be organised. The Bench issued notices to the petitioners who had approached the High Court voicing environmental concerns.

Canceling the event just two days before it was to commence, the High Court in its decision on January 28 had held that organising the fair at Park Circus Maidan was in violation of environmental norms infringing upon the fundamental rights of the citizens.

The Guild had challenged the impugned decision of the High Court, which had also directed it to restore the park to its original state and hand over its possession to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Senior advocate L Nageshwar Rao, appearing for the Guild, said that the fair was being organised at the venue for the last 30 years and it was unfair to stop it.