Police opened fire to beat back the protesters in the southern seaside town of Thoothukudi where 13 people were killed, causing national outrage and the subsequent closure of the Sterlite Copper plant.
The appeals court upheld Florence Copper's right to mine its property within the town, and confirmed the awarding of $1.7 million in legal fees and costs to Florence Copper.
Negotiations over the 36-month contract have been lengthy and at times fractious, with members voting to reject a previous offer and strike on March 9.