India may not get Kohinoor back

New Delhi: India may not get back the Kohinoor diamond, the Centre has said, citing a 43-year-old law that does not allow it to bring back antiquities taken out of the country before Independence. Under the provisions of the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972, the Archaeological Survey of India takes up the issue of retrieval of only such antiquities as have been illegally exported out of the country, it said.

Everybody is claiming the Kohinoor. How many countries are claiming Kohinoor? Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and even South Africa. Somebody here is also asking for the Kohinoor. Do you know about it?

"Since the object referred by you (Kohinoor) has been taken out of the country prior to the Independence, the Archaeological Survey of India is not in a position to process the matter," the Culture Ministry said in reply to an RTI query.

The application was filed with External Affairs Ministry seeking details of steps being taken for return of Kohinoor along with a copy of a letter written to and response received from the UK in this regard. "It may be noted that Ministry of Culture deals with return of cultural artefacts. Therefore the RTI application has been forwarded to the Ministry of Culture," the MEA said.

To a question seeking details of items which are in the UK's custody and India wants to claim them back, the Culture Ministry said "There is no list available with the Archaeological Survey of India about the items in Britain's custody". The RTI reply assumes significance as the Supreme Court had on Friday asked the government to clarify its stand on a Public Interest Litigation seeking return of Kohinoor to the country.

"Everybody is claiming the Kohinoor. How many countries are claiming Kohinoor? Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and even South Africa. Somebody here is also asking for the Kohinoor. Do you know about it?" A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur asked the Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar.