Lawyer flags auction of heritage furniture

Chandigarh: City-based lawyer Ajay Jagga has written to Union external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention against the auction of Chandigarh's institutional heritage furniture in New York on January 14. Jagga stated that furniture worth Rs 1.12 crore to Rs 1.29 crore is listed for sale and shared details of 11 items along with auction house information.In his letter, Jagga said the auction involves original furniture attributed to Pierre Jeanneret, designed during his tenure with the Government of India in the 1950s. These pieces, including chairs, tables, cabinets and daybeds, were created exclusively for public institutions such as Panjab University, Punjab Engineering College and Chandigarh administrative buildings. "These objects were procured with public funds and were never meant for private ownership or overseas sale," he wrote.MSID:: 126466664 413 |