On April 10, 2023, the Supreme Court of India allowed Sterlite Copper (at Thoothukudi) to maintain the plant in Tamil Nadu. The bench hearing the case asked the Tamil Nadu government to give appropriate decision to Vedanta Ltd.’s willingness to take activities at their own cost. Moreover, the top Court listed the matter on May 4, 2023. In 2018, the Copper Smelter plant was shut down; therefore, Vedanta filed application to ensure proper maintenance of the plant. The matter was heard by the bench headed by the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who allowed the company to ‘open in the national interest’. A High Powered Committee was constituted by the Tamil Government to carry out a ‘civil and structural safety integrity assessment study’ of the plant. In July 2022 report by the committee, various serious structural defects were identified.
The top Court after considering the report allowed the company (Vedanta) to upkeep the activities at the plant. The Company said, “The Court considered the aspect of the plant being a national asset as its reopening would immensely help in India becoming self-reliant in copper.” After hearing the contentions, the top Court ordered, “As regards the actios which were not recommended by the District Collector, Mr. C.S. Vaidyanathan, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the Tamil Nadu states that the State government will once again evaluate whether any further or supplementary directions should be issued in that regard.”
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