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Chandigarh: A major news have come out from Chandigarh heritage protection department today on August 12, 2026. The Chandigarh Heritage Items Protection Cell have sent an urgent petition to Vice-President of India, who is also the Chancellor of Panjab University. In this letter, the protection cell have requested immediate central government intervention to stop an upcoming auction in United States. A well known auction house named Wright, which operates from Chicago, is preparing to sell historic vintage furniture belonging to Panjab University and other state buildings. These rare furniture pieces was designed decades ago by famous architect Pierre Jeanneret, who worked closely with Le Corbusier while building Chandigarh city. Local activists and heritage lovers are very shocked after seeing these items listed online for sale in foreign country. The protection cell wants the Chancellor to step in quickly so that Indian heritage items does not get sold to foreign private buyers.
Details of Vintage Panjab University Furniture Listed Online -
The items listed in the Chicago auction house catalogue includes specific chairs, tables, and desks that was originally made for Panjab University campus. Famous designer Pierre Jeanneret designed these wooden furniture pieces between 1950 and 1960 using solid teak wood and local craftsmanship. Among the listed lots, there is a rare linen chest from Girls Hostel, a special writing chair from Panjab University, and a set of eight dining chairs from student residence. The overall price estimate for these heritage pieces ranges from thousands of US dollars in foreign market. Heritage activists pointed out that these furniture items carries clear inventory markings and original university serial numbers on them. Despite clear proof of ownership belonging to educational institutes in Chandigarh, these items somehow reached auction houses in Chicago without proper permissions.
Constitutional Violation and Violation of MHA Export Rules -
In the petition sent to Vice-President office, heritage activist Ajay Jagga have highlighted serious legal violations regarding this foreign auction. Back in 2011, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had issued explicit written orders banning the export and sale of Chandigarh heritage furniture designed by Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier. The protection cell explained that selling public university property in foreign countries directly violates Article 49 of the Indian Constitution, which makes it obligatory for government to safeguard historical objects of national importance. Local authorities in Chandigarh has failed to track how these heavy wooden tables and chairs continuously leaves public university offices. The activist wrote that if immediate action is not taken by central ministry, these valuable educational assets will be permanently lost into private hands.
Repeated Auctions of Chandigarh Heritage Assets in Foreign Cities -
This incident in Chicago is not the first time where Panjab University heritage items is going under the hammer abroad. Over the past few months, several auction houses in US, France, Belgium, and Spain have listed similar chairs and tables originating from Chandigarh administrative buildings and campus. Just a few weeks ago, similar vintage items was sold in Brussels auction house for huge prices because Indian authorities failed to stop the sale in time. However, in some recent cases where Indian Embassy intervened quickly, auctions in Spain and Paris was successfully stopped and items was withdrawn. Heritage Cell member said that international auction houses takes advantage because there is no real-time tracking system for vintage furniture in university stores. Every time an auction notice comes up, activists has to write emergency emails to save campus identity.
Demand for Permanent Inquiry and Protection Mechanism -
Through this fresh petition submitted on August 12, the Chandigarh Heritage Protection Cell have demanded a strong permanent solution from central leadership. They requested the Vice-President and Ministry of External Affairs to send official warnings through Indian Embassy in United States to stop Wright auction house immediately. Along with stopping this specific Chicago sale, the cell wants a high level inquiry into how university store rooms allows vintage items to be stolen or smuggled out of India. Activists also suggested that surviving Pierre Jeanneret furniture kept across Panjab University departments should be officially tagged as Art Treasure under Indian heritage laws. If proper inventory records is maintained digitally, no foreign dealer will be able to claim ownership over university property in future. Students and faculty members also feels that campus history must be protected at all costs.
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