HC restrains Sterlite from reopening, orders status quo

Justices KK Sasindhran and PD Audikesavalu of the Madurai Bench also restrained the Vedanta group from taking any steps to reopen the unit.

Hearing a petition against reopening of the Sterlite unit following the December 15 NGT order, the court directed that status quo will continue till January 21 and ordered the state government to inform by then whether it intended to file an appeal against the tribunal verdict.

The bench issued notice to the state chief secretary and the Chief Executive Officer of Sterlite to file their counter.

The state government had, on May 28, ordered the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to seal and “permanently” close the mining group’s copper plant following violent protests by locals over pollution concerns.

On an appeal by the Sterlite, the NGT had quashed the order, holding that that it was “non-sustainable” and “unjustified”.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson A K Goel had asked the TNPCB to pass a fresh order of renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of environment in accordance with law within three weeks from December 15.

Meanwhile, a media statement from Sterlite on Thursday’s development said, “We will explore appropriate legal steps to implement NGT order.”