Anti-sacrilege bill introduced in Punjab assembly, discussion on bill to be held on Tuesday
PTC News Desk: In a historic move, Punjab government on Monday tabled anti-sacrilege bill in the assembly during special session. The bill aims to ensures stricter punishment for the perpetrators of the heinous sacrilege crime.
The bill proposes punishment up to life imprisonment for sacrilegious acts against religious scriptures.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann introduced the 'Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025' in the House.
Following the introduction of the bill, leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa urged the speaker to hold the discussion on Tuesday owing to the sensitive nature and seriousness of the bill.
Earlier, the bill was approved by the council of ministers during cabinet meeting convened by CM Mann at his residence.
The bill mandates the establishment of special court for the trials of stringent sacrilege crimes. Those found guilty will not have the provision of getting parole while serving their sentence.
The bill will not be an amendment to the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, which has Sections 298 and 299 dealing with crimes related to sacrilege. Instead, the state government has introduced its own legislation.
While deliberating upon the gravity of such offences and the need to preserve communal harmony and religious sanctity, the cabinet found it of utmost importance to to introduce state-specific legislation providing a strong deterrent against perpetrating desecration of holy scriptures including life imprisonment - for those convicted of sacrilege against any holy granth.
Notably, until now, no specific legislation existed that directly addressed offences against 'holy granths', often resulting in leniency or evasion of serious action by culprits, said the spokesperson.
- PTC NEWS
