SC dismisses PIL on bringing back Kohinoor from UK

April 21, 2017

New Delhi, Apr 21: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking direction to the Union government for bringing back Kohinoor diamond from the United Kingdom.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice J S Khehar noted that the government was already making diplomatic efforts for it.

"We cannot regulate or supervise it," said the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, also rejecting the plea for stopping the probable auction of the diamond.

The government had earlier claimed its ownership over 'Kohinoor' diamond on the basis of historical evidence.

The government has also said it would make all efforts for “satisfactory resolution” of the issue with the United Kingdom.

Taking the government's plea into consideration, the court dismissed the PIL by All India Human Rights and Social Justice Front demanding efforts to bring back the 108-carat gem.

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

It had also said Kohinoor was gifted as “compensation” in the 19 th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the British for the help rendered by them in Anglo-Sikh war.

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.

“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. 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 Culture Ministry said.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Modi 1st PM to lower dignity of public discourse; indulged in most vicious form of hate speeches: Manmohan Singh

News Network

May 30,2024

As Punjab votes in the last phase of 18th Lok Sabha polls on June 1, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a letter addressed to the voters of the state said that PM Narendra Modi has indulged in most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature.

"Modi has indulged in most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature," said Singh in the letter shared by Congress on social media platform X.

Singh in the letter added that 'no PM in past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary terms to target either a specific section of society or opposition.'

"No PM in past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary terms to target either a specific section of society or opposition," remarked Manmohan Singh in the letter.

“In the past ten years, the BJP government has left no stone unturned in castigating Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiyat. 750 farmers, mostly belonging to Punjab, were martyred while incessantly waiting at Delhi borders, for months together. As if the lathis and the rubber bullets were not enough, none less than the Prime Minister verbally assaulted our farmers by calling them "Andolanjeevis" and "Parjeevi" (Parasites) on the floor of the Parliament. Their only demand was the withdrawal of the three farm laws imposed on them without consulting them," said the former Prime Minister.

On economic front:

Manmohan Singh further continuing his attack on Modi-led government said that in the past 10 years, 'the nation's economy has witnessed unimaginable turmoil.'

"The imposition of the demonetisation disaster, a flawed GST, and the painful mismanagement during the COVID pandemic has resulted in a miserable situation, where an expectation of a subpar 6-7 per cent GDP growth has become the new normal. Average GDP Growth under BJP Government has plunged to under 6 per cent, while during Congress-UPA tenure, it was about 8 per cent (New Series)," commented Singh.

"While the Congress-UPA, despite challenges, increased the purchasing power of our people, the misrule of the BJP Government has resulted in depletion of household savings to a historic 47-year low. Rural wages have witnessed a systematic fall, and wage disparity has led to widespread distress," noted Singh in the letter.

On Agniveer scheme:

On Agniveer scheme, Singh said "BJP govt imposed Agniveer scheme; it thinks value of patriotism, service is only 4 years, shows their fake nationalism."

"Those who trained for regular recruitment were woefully betrayed by the outgoing regime. The youth of Punjab, the son of the farmer, who dreams of serving the motherland through the Armed Forces, is now thinking twice about getting recruited only for a 4-year stint. Agniveer Scheme endangers National Security. Congress party has therefore promised to abolish the Agniveer Scheme," added Singh.

Earlier. during campaigning in various parts of the country, PM Modi had accused Singh of saying that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources.Singh said people of India are seeing through all of this. "This narrative of dehumanisation has now reached its peak. It is now our duty to save our beloved nation from these forces of discord," Singh said in the letter.

Comments