In Brief
This case concerns the Supreme Court's dismissal of Vedanta Limited's plea to reopen its copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, which was closed by the state government for serious and persistent environmental violations. The plant had caused air and water pollution, dumped copper slag indiscriminately, operated without proper hazardous waste authorization, and failed to comply with disposal conditions despite multiple judicial directions since 2013. The Court held that the closure was justified under principles of sustainable development, the polluter pays doctrine, and the public trust doctrine. The right to clean environment and public health prevailed over economic considerations. The Court found no exceptional circumstances warranting intervention under Article 136 and dismissed the petition."
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.