New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday refused to pass order with respect to the re-opening of Tuticorin plant in Tamil Nadu.The two-Judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, passed the judgement, after hearing in detail the arguments and submissions made by Sterlite, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and other respondents in the case.

The apex court asked the Vedanta-owned Sterlite copper plant and TNPCB to move the High Court, as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has no jurisdiction to pass orders, to re-open the plant.”We refuse to reopen the copper plant in Tuticorin of Tamil Nadu,” the bench said.

The top court of the country also set aside the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order, which had allowed the reopening of Vedanta Limited-owned Sterlite Copper plant at Thoothukudi.

The apex court said NGT did not have jurisdiction to entertain Vedanta’s appeals against the Tamil Nadu government, to close down the Sterlite plant.The apex court asked the Tamil Nadu and Vedanta to approach Madras High Court, on the issue.