Punjab Assembly approves strict Sacrilege Bill: Life imprisonment, ₹25 lakh fine
The bill aims to ensure respect for religious texts and control such incidents. Opposition leader Pratap Singh Bajwa supports the bill but questions the government's intentions and demands the committee's report be presented in the House
Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): In the special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has introduced the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill-2026 in the House.
What are the provisions of the bill?
The proposed amendment bill provides for stricter punishment for cases of sacrilege. Those found guilty will face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to 2.5 million rupees. The government states that this law is being introduced to ensure respect for religious texts and to strictly control such incidents.
The process of becoming a law:
After the bill is passed in the Assembly, it will be sent to the Governor for approval. The law will only come into effect after the Governor's approval. The government claims that this is a state subject, so Presidential approval will not be required. If no legal conflicts arise, the law could come into effect by the end of April or the first week of May. However, in the event of any dispute, it could be sent to the President, potentially delaying the process.
Opposition raised questions with support
Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa, while supporting the bill, said that it is an important step, but the report of the committee constituted in this matter should be presented in the House. He urged that the report prepared on the basis of discussions with all the parties should be made public. On this, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwa clarified that the committee will present its report in the House and will also investigate the related matters, including the Nakodar incident. During the debate, Bajwa questioned the government citing the promises made earlier. He said that claims were made of quick action against the culprits, but the expected results did not come.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann responded to this, hitting back at the opposition and stating that the government is taking action at its own level. He also clarified that cabinet and administrative decisions are the government's prerogative. A heated exchange ensued between the two leaders on this issue, leading to a heated atmosphere in the House.
Bajwa said that five cases at that time were taken out of the city. The government did not oppose it. Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was the poster boy, and he is out of the party. I want to know your government's intentions. Mann Sahib, please be generous and take action against these police officers. The CM said that your Treasury Minister and Chief Minister are out of the party. It is our decision who to appoint as a minister. After four years, we have taken away the leadership from you. You should have some shame at some point. Today is not the time. To this, Bajwa said, "People demand answers from you. The CM should tell how many cases have been filed against Punjab Police officers and what action has been taken against them." He said, "This is our fifth attempt to enact a law. We have discussed it with legal experts. This bill should not be like the previous one. We support the law. We have lived among the people. You don't want to rule for 25 years."
It's worth noting that in April 2025, the government introduced the Punjab Prevention of Offenses Against Holy Scriptures Bill, which included the scriptures of all major religions. That bill, which provided for punishments ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, was referred to a select committee for further consideration.