Chandigarh body seeks Vice-Presidents’ help to halt auction of Panjab University heritage furniture in U.S.
The Chandigarh Heritage Items Protection Cell has appealed to the Vice-President of India to halt an upcoming U.S. auction of furniture belonging to Panjab University. Officials are calling for an investigation into how these protected heritage items were removed from the country.
Why it matters
The case underscores ongoing efforts by nations to repatriate cultural property and protect institutional heritage from illicit international trade.
Chandigarh Administration’s Heritage Items Protection Cell on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) sought urgent intervention from Vice-President and Panjab University (PU) Chancellor C.P. Radhakrishnan to stop the proposed auction of heritage furniture items associated with Panjab University, to be held in the U.S. on August 13.
In a letter to the Vice-President, advocate Ajay Jagga, who is a member of HIPC, has asserted that heritage items belonging to Panjab University had been listed for sale by a Chicago-based auction house, which includes a set of eight dining chairs, described as student residence chairs of PU, with an estimated price of $12,000-$15,000. Besides, there’s a writing chair from PU, with an estimated price of $3,000-$4,000.
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