Chennai: The Madras high court has impleaded MDMK leader Vaiko, social activist Fathima and two others as parties to the proceedings initiated by Vedanta Limited, which runs Sterlite Plant in Thoothukudi district.
In its petitions, Vedanta Limited sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to facilitate the immediate opening of its Sterlite Plant in Thoothukudi by immediate de-sealing of the plant with restoration of supply of electricity.
A division bench comprising Justices T. S. Sivagnanam and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan allowed the petitions from Vaiko, Fathima, S.Arjunan and Hari Raghavan which sought to implead them as parties (respondent) in the petition filed by Vedanta Limited while dismissing a batch of 21 petitions which were filed in support of Sterlite Industry and sought to implead them as parties in petition filed by Vedanta Limited.
Posting the matter to June 20, the bench said the court will ensure that the parties have been served with necessary papers so that it can commence hearing of either the main petitions or the miscellaneous petitions. It is made clear that no additional documents be filed which may delay the hearing, the bench added.
Allowing the petition filed by Vaiko, the bench said it was the submission of Vaiko that he was relentlessly espousing the cause of the public for 23 years. In the first petition, which was filed challenging the proposal to establish the industry, Vaiko was the petitioner. It is the matter of record that he is a party to the proceedings before the court. Vaiko has also filed appeal against Sterlite. "We find Vaiko is a proper party to the proceedings", the bench added.
So far as Fathima was concerned, the bench said Fathima was a party to the proceedings initiated in the year 2013. She was also a party to the proceedings filed by Sterlite before the Appellate Authority. She was the intervener before the National Green Tribunal. She has initiated proceedings against expansion of Sterlite Industry. There were reasons to implead her in this proceeding, the bench added and allowed her petition.
Similarly, the bench impleaded Arjunan and Hari Raghavan as parties to the present proceedings.
Dismissing the petitions filed by 21 non-contesting petitioners, which were filed in support of Sterlite Industry, the bench said all the petitioners are either dependent on the Sterlite Industry or they were downstream industries or they in some manner benefited on account of the Sterlite Industry. Even the petitioners (Vedanta Limited) have also opposed the impleadment applications by contending that it was for themselves to substantiate their contentions and they require no assistance. There was nothing on record to show that these petitioner approached any other forum and "in the absence of any such approach, we are of the view that these petitions are counterblast to the other impleading petitions with a view to create a checkmate for the prayer for impleadment. Hence, the petitions are dismissed", the bench added.
