Supreme Court To Consider Hearing Vedanta's Plea On Closure Of Sterlite Copper Unit In Tamil Nadu

The senior lawyer, appearing for the Vedanta group firm, conveyed that the matter was scheduled for January 22 and requested the bench to hear it.

Previously, the Supreme Court had stated that it directed the registrar to allocate "two dedicated dates" for hearing the plea from the Vedanta group.

The Supreme Court agreed to consider hearing Vedanta groups's petition regarding the closure of Sterlite copper unit at Thoothukudi of Tamil Nadu. The bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the Vedanta group firm.

Stating that the matter needed to be heard, the senior lawyer conveyed that the matter was scheduled for January 22 and requested the bench to hear it.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) mentioned that the counsel for the parties will be informed after he confirms during the day whether any constitution bench matters are listed for a hearing, according to a report on PTI.

Previously, the Supreme Court had stated that it directed the registrar to allocate "two dedicated dates" for hearing the plea from the Vedanta group.

Last year in May, the top court instructed Tamil Nadu government to make appropriate decisions in line with its April 10 directive, permitting the Vedanta group to maintain its Sterlite copper unit in Tuticorin under the supervision of a local-level monitoring committee.

In the order dated April 10, 2023, the Supreme Court also granted permission for the evacuation of the remaining gypsum at the plant and provided the necessary manpower as requested by the company.

The court observed that the district collector had not recommended activities such as conducting a civil and structural safety integrity assessment study in the plant premises, removing and transporting spares and equipment, and evacuating in-process reverts and other raw materials lying idle.

"As regards the actions which were not recommended by the district collector, C S Vaidyanathan, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the State of Tamil Nadu, states that the state government will once again evaluate whether any further or supplementary directions should be issued in that regard," the top court had noted in its April 10 order, as per the report.