Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege Bill: Life Imprisonment To Fines For Desecration Of Guru Granth Sahib Explained

Last Updated:April 14, 2026, 19:37 IST

Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege Bill Explained: The new law introduces significantly harsher penalties for desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib

The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on April 13, 2026. This legislation aims to serve as a strong deterrent against acts of sacrilege (beadbi) and preserve communal harmony in the state.

All you need to know.

What are the provisions of the bill?

The new law introduces significantly harsher penalties for desecration specifically of the Guru Granth Sahib:

Punishment: Imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life.

Fines: Financial penalties between ₹5 lakh and ₹25 lakh.

Conspiracy: Acts involving a criminal conspiracy to incite communal unrest can lead to property confiscation.

Attempt & Abetment: Attempting sacrilege is punishable by 3 to 5 years in jail and fines up to ₹3 lakh.

Investigation: Probes must be conducted by police officers of at least Deputy Superintendent (DSP) rank.

Monitoring: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is tasked with maintaining a centralised digital and physical record of all Saroops (scriptures).

About the bill

In July 2025, the Punjab government introduced “The Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025". This earlier version covered the Guru Granth Sahib, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Quran, and Bible, but was referred to a Select Committee for review following opposition demands.

The state government argued that existing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (specifically Sections 298, 299, and 300) were inadequate for deterrent purposes.

Similar bills passed in 2016 (SAD-BJP government) and 2018 (Congress government) failed to receive Presidential assent.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the 2026 amendment to the 2008 Act requires only the Governor’s assent, potentially bypassing earlier legal hurdles.

What was the criticism?

While the bill received broad support across party lines, critics and legal experts have raised concerns.

Some argue the life imprisonment provision is constitutionally unsound and exceeds punishments for other serious crimes.

Critics note the bill lacks a precise definition of “sacrilege", potentially risking the persecution of innocent people or the suppression of dissent.

There are fears that stringent laws could fuel vigilante actions based on unverified allegations.

KEY FAQs

What does the 2026 Amendment Bill propose?

It introduces stricter punishment for sacrilege (beadbi) of the Guru Granth Sahib, including minimum 7 years to life imprisonment and heavy fines.

What new provisions have been added?

The law expands the definition of sacrilege to include physical, verbal, symbolic, and even digital acts, and makes offences non-bailable and cognisable.

Why was this amendment brought in?

It was introduced after rising incidents of sacrilege and concerns that existing laws were not strong enough to deter such offences.

With agency inputs

News explainers Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege Bill: Life Imprisonment To Fines For Desecration Of Guru Granth Sahib Explained

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