Chandigarh Administration Takes Unprecedented Action
In a historic move, the Chandigarh Administration has formally requested urgent diplomatic intervention from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to stop the auction of two Pierre Jeanneret-designed chairs scheduled in Paris on June 25. Simultaneously, two FIRs have been registered in connection with the suspected theft and illegal export of the heritage pieces. This marks the first time criminal cases have been lodged over the outflow of Chandigarh's heritage furniture abroad, according to heritage activists.
Details of the Diplomatic Request
The Administration's Secretary, Culture, wrote to the Joint Secretary (UNES), MEA, on June 23, flagging the Paris sale and seeking immediate suspension of the auction, preservation of the furniture pending investigation, verification of ownership and provenance records, and active assistance in repatriation. The MEA has been asked to take up the matter on priority with the Indian Embassy in France and French authorities.
The two chairs bear inventory markings: one with code PU/Chem/55 from Panjab University's Chemistry Department, and the other with PGI/W/CH-0202 from PGIMER, Chandigarh. Both are teak-and-cane armchairs designed by Jeanneret for public institutions as part of the 1950s Capitol Project. They are listed for auction by Parisian auctioneer François Epin, with a combined estimate of €9,000 to €12,000.
UNESCO World Heritage Status Invoked
The Administration's communication underlined that the appearance of marked government furniture in an overseas auction raises serious concerns of theft, illegal removal, unauthorised disposal, and unlawful export of heritage property. It invoked Chandigarh's UNESCO World Heritage status—the Capitol Complex is inscribed as part of "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier—An Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement"—to establish international cultural significance. The Administration stated it would provide all necessary records to support repatriation.
FIRs Registered for Theft and Trafficking
Chandigarh Police registered two FIRs on June 23 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, initiating investigations into suspected theft, illegal removal, export, sale, and trafficking of the furniture. This marks a significant escalation from previous episodes: across over 100 international auctions since 2009 that fetched an estimated Rs 40-50 crore for foreign dealers, no FIR had been lodged in Chandigarh for any specific sale.
Background and Previous Auctions
The intervention follows a representation by heritage activist and advocate Ajay Jagga, member of the UT Heritage Items Protection Cell, who alerted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Indian Ambassador to France Sanjeev Singla on June 22. His letter came after the Brussels auction of June 18, where seven Chandigarh pieces sold for Rs 1.6 crore despite advance warning, and the Chicago sale of June 4, where seven items fetched Rs 1.16 crore. In the Brussels case, no preventive action was taken despite 48 hours' notice.
Welcoming the Administration's response, Jagga called the intervention "swift and historic." He stated, "The Chandigarh Administration acted with remarkable speed by escalating the matter through the Union Ministry of External Affairs to the French Ambassador." He noted it aligns with the 2011 Ministry of Home Affairs order prohibiting export of Chandigarh heritage furniture and Article 49 of the Constitution.
Outlook and Significance
Whether the diplomatic push halts the Paris auction remains to be seen. However, the Chandigarh Administration has moved proactively with an official government-to-government request and active criminal cases—a departure from the pattern of post-facto regret that defined previous episodes in the long-running drain of the city's founding legacy.
