US EditionPunjab Assembly to Take up Stricter Sacrilege Law Today
The bill would make sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib a non-bailable offense and add a fine of up to Rs 25 lakh.
- On Monday, the Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Bill, 2026, during a special session held on Baisakhi.
- Previous sacrilege bills tabled in 2016 and 2018 failed to secure Presidential assent, prompting the government to frame this amendment as a state law to circumvent prior obstacles.
- The Bill mandates seven-year to life imprisonment for desecration, while the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is designated as the custodian of all Saroops to ensure sanctity.
- Offenses are designated as non-bailable and triable by sessions courts, with the legislation now headed to the Governor for final approval following the unanimous House passage.
- Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa backed the measure but questioned whether constitutional experts were consulted, while the government clarified the law applies exclusively to the Guru Granth Sahib.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Life term steep fines Punjab brings law against Guru Granth Sahib desecration
Punjab Assembly Passes Strict Sacrilege Law, Amends 2008 Act
To ensure strict punishment for those who commit sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, the "Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Sataar Amendment Bill, 2026" was unanimously passed today during a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly.
Punjab passes Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Bill unanimously; life term, Rs 25 lakh fine for sacrilege
Under the draft law, sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib will attract the maximum punishment of life imprisonment. Along with this, offenders may also be fined up to Rs 25 lakh.
Stricter anti-sacrilege Bill tabled in Punjab Assembly, proposes life imprisonment and heavy fines
A new bill proposes severe penalties for sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab. The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced in the Punjab Assembly, seeks to deter 'beadbi' with punishments ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Fines from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh are also proposed.
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