In a setback to Vedanta-owned Sterlite Copper, the Madras High Court on Friday ordered status quo as existed before the National Green Tribunal set aside a Tamil Nadu government order for closure of Sterlite's copper plant in Thoothukudi.

Justices KK Sasindhran and PD Audikesavalu of the Madurai Bench also restrained the Vedanta group from taking any steps to reopen the unit. The division bench order came on the petition filed by environmentalist Fathima against reopening of the Sterlite unit following the December 15 NGT order.

The court directed that status quo will continue till Jan 21 and ordered the state to inform by then whether it intended to file an appeal against the tribunal verdict. The bench issued notice to the state chief secretary Sterlite to file their counter.

The TN government had shut down the plant citing violations and health hazard after 13 people died in police firing in May during a protest seeking permanent closure of the Sterlite. Sterlite has denied these allegations.

On an appeal by the Sterlite, the NGT on Saturday quashed the May 28 order of the TNPCB for permanent closure of the plant.