The smuggling of heritage items from Chandigarh is continuing. This time two tables from the Punjab Assembly were found to have been auctioned in Los Angeles for US$17,849, that is for Rs 13.36 lakh. The auction was held on 21 October and the prices that tables fetched were $9,562 and $8,287. Whistle-blower Ajay Jagga, Advocate, Member, Heritage Protection Cell, Chandigarh questioned the Punjab government on this matter and wrote a letter to the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Rana K.P. Singh.
Jagga wrote, “I had conveyed on 14-10-2021 reg an auction to be held in the USA-Los Angeles, where two tables of Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Assembly Building) at Chandigarh (which are heritage articles) were to be auctioned. It is amazing, as to who sold Vidhan Sabha heritage tables in violation of the Constitution of India and MHA orders (22 February 2011) and who took it to the USA for sale. The inventory number of the table is written in Gurmukhi (Punjabi) and is clearly visible.”
Jagga added, “Whether Punjab Government sold its heritage? If not, what steps are being taken to protect and preserve the heritage? Why article 49 of the Constitution of India is being violated, which mandates that the state must protect such articles? For ready ref: Article 49. Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance. It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, 2 [declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be. As such, if the State wishes to protect its heritage, it must get the matter examined from the law enforcing agencies of Punjab as to who and how sold it, whether due permissions were taken and why MHA orders were violated. May also inquire even from the United States, as to how these items reached in LA when the export of these items is banned in India, by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Whether laws of India and USA were followed or not. Whether the people came to India on business VISA or tourist VISA. Whether all the duties/taxes were paid. Whether right information was given at the export counter in India and import counter in the USA. As there is a complete ban of sale/disposal of such items in India and even ban on export also. Whether the seller is in legal/lawful possession. “The representation is filed in accordance with Article 51 of the Constitution of India. The intimation is being given, for the compliance of Article 49 of the Constitution of India. Hence you are humbly requested to look into the matter, order probe as to who sold these articles, and may also approach the law enforcing agencies of USA through our Embassy in the USA to know how these items reached this auction house, so that the auction of smuggled heritage items (if any), can be stalled, after ascertaining the facts, stated Jagga.
