LG Polymers India Ltd from whose plant at Visakhapatnam, there was a leakage of Styrene gas on May 7, resulting in the death of 12 persons and hospitalisation of over 500 people faced a big setback in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The apex court rejected the petition of the company seeking a stay on the orders of National Green Tribunal for an investigation into the gas leakage incident. The arguments in the case were posted to June 8.
The LG Polymers argued that the NGT had no jurisdiction to probe into the accident. It said the NGT cannot take up a suo motu inquiry into the incident. However, the Supreme Court rejected this argument.
It said the apex court would take up the hearing only after the completion of NGT inquiry. It also ruled that all legal issues could be raised only before the NGT.
“Any objections from the company should be raised only before the NGT,” the Supreme Court ruled.
It may be mentioned that the LG Polymers’ lawyers challenged the directions of the NGT and Andhra Pradesh state high court in the Supreme Court.
The company challenged the high court’s direction to deposit Rs 50 crore till the investigation into the gas leakage incident was completed.