Punjab: Cabinet approves stringent anti-sacrilege law with life term, spoken words and electronic content included

Punjab Cabinet approves anti sacrilege law with life term punishment
Punjab anti-sacrilege Bill proposes life term and heavy fines (Image: nishaannagaara.com)

On 11th April, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann cleared the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Bill 2026. The bill prescribes punishment for sacrilege act against Sri Guru Granth Sahib ranging between a minimum of 10 years in prison to life imprisonment. The proposed law also prescribes fines between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. It allows government to confiscate property of those found guilty. The Bill is expected to be tabled in a Special Assembly session scheduled for Monday.

Definition expanded, spoken and written acts included

The amendments proposed in the bill expand desecration to include words, spoken or written, signs, or visible representation through electronic means that hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. According to media reports, individuals, institutions, or gurdwara committees formally supplied with saroops of Guru Granth Sahib would also be responsible for its protection and adherence to Sikh Rehat Maryada.

Notably, the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act 2008 had given exclusive publication rights of the Guru Granth Sahib to the SGPC. Under the amendments, the SGPC will also be legally bound to maintain manual and electronic records of all saroops to prevent incidents such as missing Saroops that have led to protests and serious controversies in the past.

Government says stricter deterrence required

In a statement, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Aam Aadmi Party-led (AAP) state government has decided to amend the law to provide stringent punishment for those desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib. He added that masterminds often escaped by using mentally challenged individuals to carry out such acts. The amended law seeks to punish those orchestrating incidents of sacrilege.

Cheema added that several sacrilege incidents in the past deeply hurt public sentiments and caused unrest. He stated that the provisions that currently exist under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were not stringent enough, prompting the need for stronger legal measures.

When asked about the fact that other scriptures have not been included, he stated that the Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living Guru and cannot be equated with other texts. He also referred to the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture Bill 2025, which is currently with a Select Committee.

The timing of proposing the amendments, however, may raise eyebrows, as for the past four years, the state government did not take any steps to strengthen laws against sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, though AAP leaders had promised to take steps to prevent sacrilege incidents at the time of the last Assembly elections. The next Assembly polls in Punjab are scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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