In a huge setback to mining giant Vedanta, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the conglomerate’s petition challenging the Madras High Court's judgment directing the closure of Sterlite's copper smelting unit at Tuticorin. Sterlite is an arm of Vedanta.

In 2018, the plant witnessed 10 deaths and injuries to 50 others in police firing after the locals staged massive protests for the closure of the plant due to widespread pollution and violation of ecological norms.

A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra upheld the high court’s direction for the closure of the plant as the apex court said there were repeated violations of the environmental norms by the company warranting closure of the copper melting unit.

"We are of the view that closure of industry undoubtedly is certainly not a matter of first choice. However, the repeated nature of breaches, coupled with the severity of the violations would in this analysis render neither the statutory authorities nor the High Court to take any other view unless they were to be oblivious of their plain duty,” the CJI said.

“We are conscious of the fact that the unit has been contributing to the productive assets of the nation... while these aspects have undoubted relevance, this court has to be mindful of other well settled principles, including the principles of sustainable development, polluter pays principles and public trust doctrine.”