The Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi was shut down by Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in 2018 citing violations of environmental laws. The order was issued a week after the plant turned into a protest site, with citizens opposing its proposed expansion. In the police firing that followed on the hundredth day of the protest, 13 persons were killed.

The division bench of Justices T S Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan pronounced the judgement, seven months after reserving the orders in the case. The bench upheld the Tamil Nadu government's decision of closure of the Sterlite copper factory permanently and dismissed the plea of Vedanta.

Vedanta Group which owns 'Sterlite Copper' factory had moved a petition before the High Court in February 2019 challenging the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to close down the massive copper-smelting unit in Thoothukudi.

Hours before the verdict, Thoothukudi city resembled a virtual fortress with policemen put on guard to avoid riots, like before.