The high court of Bombay at Goa, on Friday, reserved its order on the public interest litigation (PIL) filed seeking a declaration that all ore lying outside mining lease areas and ore transported from March 16 belongs to the state. Counsels appearing for mining companies and traders argued that royalty was paid on the ore prior to February this year and that they should be permitted to transport and load the ore onto barges.

Advocate Subodh Kantak, who appeared for one of the mining companies, argued that distinction could not be made between ore lying at stockyards and at jetties and that this should be permitted to be lifted and exported.