4 min readApr 12, 2026 10:42 AM IST
First published on: Apr 12, 2026 at 10:42 AM IST
The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved stringent amendments to an Act on sacrilege, proposing enhanced penalties, including life imprisonment, to deter incidents of ‘beadbi’ and uphold the sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib.
The Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, cleared the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which also proposes a fine between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. The government’s position is rooted in Sikh theology, which regards the scripture as the eternal Guru. Hence, the Bill specifically deals with sacrilege involving the holy scripture.
According to an official statement, “There have been several incidents in the past involving ‘beadbi’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and other holy scriptures, which have deeply hurt public sentiments by bruising their psyche and caused unrest in society. While Sections 298, 299, and 300 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita address such offences, they do not prescribe sufficiently stringent punishment to act as an effective deterrent,” it said, adding that stronger legal measures were required to safeguard religious sanctity and promote communal harmony.
After careful consideration and discussion, the Mann government has decided that appropriate legal measures are required to safeguard the sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib and to promote mutual respect, understanding, and communal harmony in the society, it added.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the Bill would not require the assent of the President of India. “This Bill will be sent to the Governor. It requires the Governor’s assent,” he said, adding that it will be tabled in a special session of the Vidhan Sabha on Monday.
He said the Bill also proposes punishment for those who masterminds the sacrilege through a mentally challenged person under a conspiracy. A probe into sacrilege acts will be undertaken by a Deputy Superintendent of Police rank officer, Cheema said.
Replying to a question whether this law covers other religious texts as well, Cheema said it is only for sacrilege against the Sikh holy book– Guru Granth Sahib. “The proposed legislation is expected to act as a strong deterrent against individuals with malicious intent and to contribute positively towards maintaining peace and communal goodwill in Punjab,” he said,
Responding to objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Cheema said the gurdwara body had been invited to present its views before the select committee but did not participate. “They did not avail of this opportunity,” he said.
Previous governments had made unsuccessful legislative attempts to enact stricter anti-sacrilege laws. In 2016 and later in 2018, the Punjab Assembly had passed Bills seeking to introduce harsher punishment, including life imprisonment, for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib. However, these Bills never became law as they either did not receive Presidential assent or lapsed amid legal and constitutional concerns.
The demand for a stringent law has also found expression in public protests over the years. In one such instance, a radical Sikh activist climbed atop a BSNL tower in Samana and staged a prolonged protest, demanding the enactment of a strict anti-sacrilege law. He continues to be atop the tower for over a year.
The sacrilege issue has remained highly sensitive in Punjab, particularly since the 2015 Bargari sacrilege and Behbal Kalan firing incidents that triggered widespread unrest. Against this backdrop, the Mann government’s latest move is being seen as another attempt to push through a law that has eluded successive administrations, even as the challenge of ensuring its legal sustainability remains.
Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann 
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