Will make efforts to resolve Kohinoor issue, Centre tells SC

Claiming its ownership over the ‘Kohinoor’ diamond on the basis of historical evidence, the Union government has told the Supreme Court it would make all efforts for “satisfactory resolution” of the issue with the United Kingdom.

Holding that it understands the sentiment of the Indian people attached with the Kohinoor, the government maintained that India’s credentials regarding ownership of the Kohinoor based on historical evidence cannot be doubted.

The Centre, through an affidavit, changed its previous stand before the apex court that the Kohinoor was gifted as a “compensation” in the 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the British for the help rendered by them in the Anglo-Sikh war.

“It is a known historical fact that the said Kohinoor diamond was duplicitously confiscated by the East India Company in 1849, from Maharaja Duleep Singh, who was then a minor,” the Ministry of Culture stated.

“Kohinoor has great historical and sentimental significance for Indian citizens and the efforts to retrieve the same may be viewed in the light of its ownership, tracing back to Indian origin and the sentiments of Indian citizens attached to it,” it added.

The response came in a PIL by All India Human Rights and Social Justice Front demanding efforts to bring back the 108-carat gem.

The government also relied upon Article 15 of the Unesco convention, 1970, to which the UK is also signatory, that allowed the states to seek restitution of removed cultural property by entering into special agreement.

“The Kohinoor, as also other Indian artifacts, manuscripts and items of artistic and historical value that are presently in the UK, are a significant expression of India’s historical heritage. The Kohinoor is an Indian artifact that was located for most of its history within the political and geographical boundaries of India...the government of India continues to explore ways and means for obtaining satisfactory resolution to the issue with the UK government,” the ministry said.
DH News Service