SC refuses to entertain Vedanta’s plea for access to Sterlite Copper plant

The firm had also challenged in the apex court the Madras High Court’s order which had declined to give an early hearing to their interim application as well as the main petitions, which relate to the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNPCB’s) order to shut down the plant.

“We are not here to control the High Court,” a bench headed by Justice R F Nariman said, following which the firm withdrew its plea.

In its plea, the firm had said that it was only trying to commence repair and maintenance activities to preserve its assets, claiming a loss of more than Rs 100 crore due to lack of maintenance.

Earlier this year, the apex court had directed the company to move the Madras High Court against the TNPCB order shutting the plant down. The firm had sought expeditious hearing of its main petitions but the High Court expressed its inability to hear the matter due to paucity of time and adjourned it till April 23.

Meanwhile, after its special leave petition was dismissed, Sterlite Copper CEO Pankaj Kumar said they were now looking forward to a positive outcome in the next hearing in the High Court.