Advocate approaches US Embassy, Rajya Sabha secretary general to stop auction of Chandigarh’s heritage pair of Kangaroo Chairs

An advocate of Chandigarh approached the US Embassy and the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha to urge them to stop the auction of a pair of Chandigarh’s heritage Kangaroo Chairs (without Cane) in the USA on Sunday.

The base price of the chairs has been kept at $5,000 (Rs 4.10 lakh). The auction will take place at the auction house, Batron, in Pennsylvania City.

Advocate Ajay Jagga, who is also a member of the UT Heritage Protection Committee, said the pair of Kangaroo Chairs were designed by Pierre Jeanneret when he was employed in the Chandigarh Project.

In his communication to authorities on Saturday, Jagga said, “I am submitting this communication, as an additional submission in my ‘petition for protection of national heritage (Chandigarh Heritage Articles) from being auctioned all over the world’ and earlier communications, seeking intervention from the Rajya Sabha, for making rules and regulations for the protection of heritage (specifically which is less than 75 years of age) as the mandate of the constitution of India is already there under article 49 in this regard. In fact, the heritage articles are being auctioned regularly in foreign countries without any resistance from Government of India. Now, on 30 July, a pair of Kangaroo Chairs (without cane), from Chandigarh is being auctioned, in USA by an auction house BARTON in Pennsylvania City.”