Get Back Kohinoor, No More Hope!

Koh-i-Noor, the world famous colourless diamond found first in Guntur area of Andhra Pradesh changed many hands from 13th Century before finally ending up in the possession of Queen Victoria after the British conquest of the Punjab in 1849. After Indian Independence, there were many attempts made to bring Kohinoor back to India but none of the Governments succeeded.

Currently, Kohinoor is set in a royal crown on display in the Tower of London.

A consortium of NGOS, All India Human Rights and Social Justice Front and Heritage Bengal filed a PIL in Supreme Court seeking a direction to the United Kingdom to return the Kohinoor’

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar said, ‘we are quite surprised that such petitions are filed for properties which are in the USA and the UK. What kind of a writ petition is this? This is not under our jurisdiction.

Government of India continues to explore ways and means with the UK government on the issue and it was satisfied with the government's response that it was making efforts to get the diamond back.’

Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma had told Lok Sabha some time back that the objects taken away from the country prior to Independence including Kohinoor do not fall under the purview of Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.

However, British governments have a clear stance. ‘If we oblige to one request, we may suddenly find the British Museum empty.’