Life term, steep fines: Punjab brings law against Guru Granth Sahib desecration

The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a Bill proposing stringent punishment, including life imprisonment and fines up to Rs 25 lakh, for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tabled the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during a special session convened to strengthen provisions of the 2008 law. He said the legislation would serve as a strong deterrent and added that it requires only the Governor’s assent, not the President’s.

HEAVY PENALTIES FOR SACRILEGE, CONSPIRACY

The Bill prescribes imprisonment ranging from seven to 20 years and fines between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.

In cases involving criminal conspiracy aimed at disturbing peace or communal harmony, the punishment ranges from 10 years to life imprisonment, along with fines from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Attempts to commit sacrilege attract jail terms of three to five years and fines between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh.

The law defines sacrilege broadly, covering deliberate acts such as damage, defacement, burning, tearing, theft, or any expression—spoken, written, symbolic or electronic—that hurts religious sentiments.

SGPC TO MAINTAIN CENTRAL REGISTER

The Bill mandates that investigations be conducted by police officers not below the rank of deputy superintendent or assistant commissioner.

It also assigns the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) the responsibility of maintaining a centralised register of all ‘Saroops’ of the Guru Granth Sahib. The database will include unique identification numbers, printing and distribution details, storage locations, and custodian information, and will be maintained in both physical and digital formats.

Custodians will be legally bound to ensure safe handling and adherence to the Sikh code of conduct, with violations attracting penalties of up to five years in jail and fines up to Rs 10 lakh.

BROAD SUPPORT, OPPOSITION SEEKS CLARITY

The Bill received support across party lines, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa backing the move but seeking clarity on whether constitutional experts were consulted. He also raised concerns over justice in past sacrilege cases, including the 2015 incidents and subsequent police firing in Faridkot.

AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar said there has long been a demand for stricter punishment for sacrilege.

PAST ATTEMPTS, LEGAL HURDLES AND CONTEXT

Acts of sacrilege remain a deeply sensitive issue in Punjab, with repeated demands for stronger legal provisions. Previous attempts to introduce stricter laws, by both the SAD-BJP government in 2016 and the Congress government in 2018, did not receive presidential assent.

The state government has argued that existing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are inadequate, and the new amendment seeks to address gaps by introducing harsher penalties specifically for desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.

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