Supreme Court dismisses Vedanta’s plea seeking to reopen Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu

Today, the Supreme Court (SC) of India dismissed the special leave petition filed by Vedanta Limited challenging the Madras High Court’s decision dismissing a batch of pleas seeking to reopen Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The order reads, “The court has to be mindful of the other well-settled principles, including the principle of sustainable development, polluter pays principle, and the public trust doctrine. The health and welfare of the residents of the area are of utmost concern and in the ultimate analysis, the state government is responsible for preserving and protecting their concerns…After capable evaluation, we have come to the conclusion that the special leave petition by the industrial unit does not warrant interference under Article 136 of the Constitution. The special leave petition stands dismissed.” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra heard the matter.