Vedanta Limited, v. State Of Tamil Nadu,

WMP.Nos.6575, 6590, 6596, 6598, 6602, 6628 & 6630, 6634 and 6703 of 2019 respectively in WP.Nos.5756, 5764, 5772, 5774, 5776, 5792, 5801 and T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J) In terms of our order dated 12.6.2019, the writ petitions are listed before us along with the miscellaneous petitions filed by the petitioner.

2. On the last hearing date, there was a submission made by the learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner that he desires to argue the miscellaneous petitions first, as the petitioner industry seeks certain interim orders.

3. In order to clarify the said position, we queried the learned Senior Counsel as to how he proposed to proceed with the matter. On the last occasion, we fixed today i.e 20.6.2019 as the peremptory date for completing the pleadings. It is submitted by the learned Senior Counsel that he will commence arguments in the main writ petitions, as the pleadings in the main writ petitions as well as in the miscellaneous petitions are common, that this Court may take up the writ petitions themselves for consideration and that the petitioner may be permitted to argue for the interim relief sought for in the miscellaneous petitions. This submission cannot be objected to by the respondents i.e. either the State or the impleaded parties. (2)

4. Hence, the above miscellaneous petitions are closed with liberty to the writ petitioner industry to canvass all the points, which they pleaded in support of interim relief sought for while proceeding to argue the main writ petitions.

5. Mr.T.Mohan, learned counsel appearing for one of the impleaded parties submits that voluminous documents have been given to the counsel, that the impleaded parties should be granted time to file their response and that the time fixed by this Court to complete the pleadings i.e. Today (20.6.2019) be extended.

6. We have heard the learned Advocate General and the other learned counsel on the said submissions.

7. We are conscious of the directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court that the matter should be heard expeditiously. At the same time, we are also conscious of the fact that voluminous documents have been furnished to the impleaded parties and except one Mr.K.S.Arjunan, who has been impleaded as a party respondent in all the writ petitions, the others are yet to file counter.

8. The learned Advocate General submits that the State of Tamil Nadu as well as the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board have filed separate counter (3)

affidavits, which will cover the stand to be taken by the other respondents as well.

9. The Electricity Board also filed a separate counter in the writ petitions, a copy of which was served on the writ petitioner.

10. Considering the fact that voluminous documents have been served on the learned counsel for the newly impleaded parties, we extend time to complete the pleadings by 26.6.2019. Advance copies shall be served on parties and filed before the Registry on 26.6.2019 at 3 PM. As requested by the learned counsel for the parties, list the writ petitions for hearing on 27.6.2019 at 11.30 AM.

20.6.2019 RS

T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS WMP.No.6575 of 2019 in WP.No.5756 of 2019 etc. cases 20.6.2019