3 weeks ago
Advocate seeks probe into auction of Panjab University heritage furniture
Some very old chairs that belonged to Panjab University in India were going to be sold at an auction in Chicago, a city in the United States.
An advocate named Ajay Jagga wanted to stop the sale because the chairs are part of India's heritage, which means they are old and important pieces of history.
He wrote a request to the Vice President of India, who is also the Chancellor of Panjab University.
The chairs were listed in two groups, and together they could have sold for a lot of money.
Jagga was worried the chairs might have been taken out of India without permission.
He said there are rules, including an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs, that protect important heritage items from being sold or moved out of the country.
He asked the government to investigate how the chairs got to Chicago and whether any laws were broken.
He also said that similar sales of heritage items in France and Spain had been stopped before with help from Indian authorities.
If the chairs really belong to India, Jagga wants them to be brought back.
Advocate Ajay Jagga urged Vice President and Panjab University Chancellor C P Radhakrishnan to intervene in the proposed August 13 auction of two Panjab University heritage furniture items in Chicago.
Lot No 155 is a set of eight dining chairs described as student residence chairs of Panjab University, estimated at USD 12,000-15,000.
Lot No 161 is a writing chair from Panjab University, estimated at USD 3,000-4,000, putting the combined value of the two lots at USD 13,000-19,000 (approximately Rs 12.40 lakh to Rs 18.12 lakh).
Jagga cited Article 51A(f) and Article 49 of the Constitution, and a Ministry of Home Affairs order dated February 22, 2011, which he said prohibits the disposal and export of such heritage items.
He sought an inquiry into how the items reached the Chicago auction house, asked Indian diplomatic authorities to determine their provenance, and noted that two similar auctions in France and Spain were previously stopped.
- Who
- Advocate Ajay Jagga, a member of the Heritage Items Protection Cell, Chandigarh, made a representation to Vice President and Panjab University Chancellor C P Radhakrishnan.
- What
- A request to halt and investigate the proposed auction of two Panjab University heritage furniture items listed for sale by a Chicago-based auction house on August 13.
- Where
- Chandigarh, India; the proposed auction is in Chicago, United States.
- When
- The representation was made on Tuesday, August 11, ahead of the auction scheduled for August 13.
- Why
- Jagga alleged the items may be Panjab University heritage property unlawfully removed from India, citing constitutional provisions and a 2011 Ministry of Home Affairs order protecting heritage items.
Key facts
- Auction date
- August 13
- Auction location
- Chicago, United States
- Lot No 155
- Eight dining chairs described as student residence chairs of Panjab University; estimated USD 12,000-15,000
- Lot No 161
- Writing chair from Panjab University; estimated USD 3,000-4,000
- Combined estimated value
- USD 13,000-19,000 (approximately Rs 12.40 lakh to Rs 18.12 lakh)
- Complainant
- Advocate Ajay Jagga, member of Heritage Items Protection Cell, Chandigarh
- Representation addressed to
- Vice President and Panjab University Chancellor C P Radhakrishnan
- Legal references
- Article 51A(f) and Article 49 of the Constitution; Ministry of Home Affairs order dated February 22, 2011
Sources
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