The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition by Vedanta Limited seeking to overturn the closure of its copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, emphasizing the legal and moral imperative to adhere to environmental standards. This decision reaffirms an earlier ruling that has kept the plant closed since May 2018 following severe pollution concerns and public unrest.
The closure of the plant came in the wake of environmental protests that escalated to a tragic confrontation resulting in the deaths of 13 demonstrators. The protestors were advocating against what they perceived as unchecked pollution from the plant affecting the health and environment of the local community.
A bench led by the now-retired Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, and including Justices J. B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, reviewed the case. The justices concluded that there was “no error apparent on the face of the record” that warranted a reversal of the decision to shut down the facility, stating that no sufficient grounds were presented to review the earlier judgment under Order XLVII Rule 1 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.
The ruling was not only a setback for Vedanta but also a significant affirmation of the judiciary’s commitment to environmental integrity and community welfare. The court’s decision sends a strong signal to industries across the nation about the imperative of complying with environmental regulations and the consequences of their neglect.
