SC allows Vedanta to produce oxygen in view of 'national need'

SC has allowed Vedanta to operate oxygen production unit at its Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu, on a stand-alone basis.

New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Vedanta to operate its closed oxygen plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, saying the order has been passed in view of "national need" for oxygen.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat said Vedanta shall not be allowed to enter and operate its copper smelting plant under the garb of this order.

"We are inclined to allow the reopening of the plant on stand-alone basis....we clarify that the applicant should not expect that the plant will be allowed to run as a whole....we are allowing reopening in view of pandemic emergency. The plant shall be operated & only produce oxygen & for no other purpose," said Justice DY Chandrachud.

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Present order shall be in force till July 31, 2021...further decision will be taken on the basis of the COVID-19 situation at that time, the court said.

The top court said there should be no political bickering over the generation of oxygen by Vedanta as the country is facing a national crisis.

It said the order allowing Vedanta to operate its oxygen plant would not create any equity in its favour.

The apex court asked Tamil Nadu to form a panel, including the district collector and th Tuticorin superintendent of police, to monitor activities at Vedanta's oxygen plant.

On April 23, the top court had said people are dying due to lack of oxygen, and questioned the Tamil Nadu government on why it can't take over Vedanta's Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin, closed since May 2018 over pollution concerns, for producing oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients.

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with agency inputs