SC refuses Sterlite plant's reopening, asks Vedanta to move Madras HC

Says NGT has no jurisdiction to decide, asks Vedanta to approach Madras HC for interim relief

In a setback to Vedanta, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday set aside thes (NGT’s) order allowing reopening of the company’s Sterlite Copper unit at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.

The two-judge Bench, led by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman held that NGT had no jurisdiction to pass orders allowing the unit's reopening, and gave Vedanta the liberty to approach the Madras High Court (HC) for interim relief as its plant had been shut since April 2018.

The Madras HC, the apex court said, could decide the issue on merits.

Terming it a big victory for the people of Tamil Nadu, the