Chandigarh’s heritage auctioned in France, Italy

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 29

A pair each of Chandigarh’s heritage chairs and teak bedside cabinets, designed by Pierre Jeanneret, was auctioned overseas.

In this connection, Ajay Jagga, member of UT’s Heritage Items Protection Cell, has written to India’s Minister of Culture G Kishan Reddy and ministers of state Arjun R Meghwal and Meenakshi Lekhi. He stated that the furniture, according to the details mentioned by auction houses, was procured from the city. “The auction of Chandigarh heritage items are clearly in violation of Article 49 of the Constitution of India and the MHA orders (22 February, 2011),” he wrote.

On October 27, two armchairs with wooden structure and Vienna straw seat and back, coming from the furnishings of the administrative premises of Chandigarh, were auctioned in Italy for Rs8.70 lakh by an auction house named Cambi.

On October 23, Carvajal SVV auctioned a pair of teak bedside tables, dating back to 1955-56 from ‘Private houses of Chandigarh and “MLA Flat” (residence for civil servants) in Chandigarh, Sectors 3 and 4’ went under the hammer for Rs7.81 lakh.

Jagga added, “There is an emergent need to get the matter examined from the law-enforcing agencies as to how these items reached France and Italy and if laws of India, France and Italy were followed or not. There is a complete ban of the sale/disposal of such items in India and a ban on export also. Whether the seller is in legal/lawful possession. As there is a mandate under a Article 49, to every state, for the protection and conservation of heritage.”