British Prime Minister David Cameron had said that the Kohinoor was set in a royal crown and could not be returned.
Highlights
- Top court was hearing a petition to bring back Kohinoor diamond from UK
- British PM has said it is part the crown jewels and can't be returned
- 105 carat diamond believed to have come from a mine in Andhra Pradesh
The government was asked by the Supreme Court today to spell out its stand on bringing back the Kohinoor diamond from the UK.
Hearing a petition to bring back the giant diamond, the Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur, said: "Many countries have staked their claim on the diamond, including Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is in the custody of a sovereign nation."
The court questioned the government if enough had been done to press for the Kohinoor's return to the county of its origin.
The petitioner is the All India Human Rights and Social Justice Front.
Three years ago, British Prime Minister David Cameron had said that the Kohinoor was set in a royal crown and could not be returned.
"I certainly don't believe in returnism, as it were. I don't think that's sensible," Mr Cameron said.
The 105 carat diamond is one of the world's largest and is widely believed to have come from a mine in Andhra Pradesh. Its name means "mountain of light".
The stone changed hands several times over hundreds of years before ending up in the possession of Queen Victoria in 1850.
Today, the diamond is set in the front of the Queen Mother's Crown, part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, and is seen by millions of visitors to the Tower of London each year
If Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, becomes queen consort she will wear the crown studded with the diamond in official events.
Many in India have urged the government to make a strong effort to bring the diamond back.