TN justifies Sterlite unit's closure, main pleas to be taken up on June 27

The Tamil Nadu government Thursday filed a counter affidavit in the Madras High Court, justifying its order closing of a unit of Vedanta group firm Sterlite Copper in Tuticorin district.

The government submitted that permanent closure was ordered in May to prevent further pollution in the area.

When a batch of pleas challenging the closure came up, a division bench of justices T S Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan fixed the date of hearing on the main petitions on June 27.

Senior counsel for Vedanta submitted that petitions for non-renewal of consent to operate the plant, petitions challenging the closure can be taken up for final hearing and simultaneously miscellaneous pleas can also be heard.

On his part, Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed the bench that the state government had already filed a detailed counter.

"The order of closure does not deserve interference of the court," the counter said.

"The aim and objective of the decision of closure of the industry is in consonance with the letter and spirit of Article 48A of the Constitution of India, which was specifically invoked by the State."