Chandigarh: Even as Chandigarh battles a relentless drain of its iconic design legacy, another piece of its history is set to go under the hammer abroad. With two heritage furniture items linked to Panjab University and PGI surfacing at a Paris auction scheduled for June 25, the Chandigarh administration has rushed to seek the Centre’s intervention to stall the sale and secure their return. Flagging suspected illegal removal and export, the UT has moved the ministry of external affairs for urgent action, even as police have registered FIRs to probe how the city’s prized Le Corbusier–Jeanneret artefacts slipped into the international auction circuit.In a communication to the joint secretary (UNES), ministry of external affairs, the UT secretary, culture, expressed concern over the provenance of two furniture items listed for auction. According to the administration, the items bear inventory markings ‘PU Chem/55’ and ‘PGI/W/CH-020’, indicating their association with Panjab University and PGI, Chandigarh.Officials said the markings suggest the furniture may have been removed from the custody of the institutions and transported abroad without authorization. The administration has raised concerns regarding the circumstances under which the items reached the international auction market.The letter emphasizes that the furniture forms an important part of Chandigarh’s modernist architectural heritage and the original vision of Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and his collaborators. Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier – An Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement”, making the preservation of original heritage assets a matter of national and international significance.According to the administration, the appearance of such furniture in an overseas auction has raised concerns about possible theft, illegal removal, unauthorized disposal and unlawful export of heritage property. Officials fear that the auction could result in the permanent loss of assets closely linked to Chandigarh’s historical identity and India’s cultural legacy.FIRs registeredIn response, Chandigarh Police registered two FIRs on June 23, 2026, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and initiated investigations into the suspected theft, illegal removal, export, sale and trafficking of the furniture.The administration has urged the MEA to take up the matter with the Embassy of India in France and French authorities on priority. It has sought immediate suspension or postponement of the auction, preservation of the furniture pending investigation, verification of ownership and provenance records, assistance in recovery and repatriation of the items, and measures to prevent any further unauthorized sale or export of Chandigarh heritage furniture.The Chandigarh administration reiterated its commitment to safeguarding India’s cultural and architectural heritage and assured full cooperation by providing records, inventories, documentation and technical assistance required for securing the return of the heritage assets.Since March 2026, at least five auctions featuring Chandigarh’s heritage furniture have been held across countries. On June 20, seven such pieces were sold at a Brussels auction for Rs 1.6 crore, followed by another sale in Belgium on June 19. Earlier, on June 6, items fetched Rs 1.3 crore in the US. Furniture was also auctioned in the UK on May 3, while chairs from the city were sold for over Rs 10 lakh at an Italy auction on March 29.The trend extends to previous years as well. In 2025, artefacts designed by Pierre Jeanneret were auctioned abroad on 11 occasions. In 2024, six major auctions across countries saw Chandigarh’s heritage pieces go under the hammer — fetching Rs 88 lakh in the US in June, Rs 69 lakh in April, Rs 23 lakh in Luxembourg in March, and Rs 25 lakh in another US auction the same month. Earlier, auctions in France in February and January saw sales worth Rs 7 lakh and Rs 40 lakh, respectively.
