Advocate seeks probe into auction of PEC furniture

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 25

In a complaint to the Director, Punjab Engineering College (PEC), city-based advocate Nitin Sarin stated that M/s Saffron Art, an auction house of the country, will be auctioning various pieces of furniture from Chandigarh, including one from PEC, in a sale titled “The Collector’s Eye” on May 27 and 28.

“One such piece is a ‘cross slated bench’ reportedly made of teak. The item is being advertised for Rs 2.25 lakh to Rs 2.75 lakh,” he said, and added that on May 19, when he visited the website of the auction house, he took screenshots of the item being sold which shows the markings “PEC/R/Hos-71”.

On May 21, when he revisited the website, they had removed the markings on the bench and all reference to PEC, however, the references to Jeanerette and Corbusier remain.

“Despite pointing this out to the auction house via email as well as Twitter, no action seems to have been taken,” he said.

He requested the authorities to look into the matter and take necessary action and that investigation be initiated as to how item “PEC/R/Hos-71” was being sold in the open market.