Punjab Governor Assents to Strict Sacrilege Bill Protecting Guru Granth Sahib
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has granted assent to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill 2026, officially enacting it into law. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the development, marking the successful culmination of a legislative effort passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly during a special Baisakhi session. The bill establishes stringent penalties for sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, regarded by Sikhs as their living Guru. Offenders face imprisonment ranging from seven to twenty years, escalating to life imprisonment if the act involves conspiracies to disturb communal harmony. The legislation introduces structural reforms, including replacing terminology to align with Sikh theology and mandating the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to maintain a centralized register of all scripture copies. Unlike previous attempts in 2016 and 2018 that stalled at the central level, this bill secured support from major political parties, including the BJP, facilitating its final approval. The law defines sacrilege broadly to include physical, verbal, and electronic acts, aiming to provide the toughest legal framework yet for protecting religious sanctity in the state.
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Punjab Governor Assents to Strict Sacrilege Bill Protecting Guru Granth Sahib
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has granted assent to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill 2026, officially enacting it into law. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the development, marking the successful culmination of a legislative effort passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly during a special Baisakhi session. The bill establishes stringent penalties for sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, regarded by Sikhs as their living Guru. Offenders face imprisonment ranging from seven to twenty years, escalating to life imprisonment if the act involves conspiracies to disturb communal harmony. The legislation introduces structural reforms, including replacing terminology to align with Sikh theology and mandating the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to maintain a centralized register of all scripture copies. Unlike previous attempts in 2016 and 2018 that stalled at the central level, this bill secured support from major political parties, including the BJP, facilitating its final approval. The law defines sacrilege broadly to include physical, verbal, and electronic acts, aiming to provide the toughest legal framework yet for protecting religious sanctity in the state.
The Indian Express