Punjab Assembly passes anti-sacrilege Bill unanimously in special session
Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026: In a significant and historic move, the Punjab Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ during a special session. The announcement by the Speaker was followed by resounding chants of “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal,” echoing across the House.
The Bill, aimed at ensuring stricter punishment for sacrilege-related offences against Sri Guru Granth Sahib, proposes penalties ranging from 10 years of imprisonment to life imprisonment.
Concluding the debate, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the legislation had been drafted with utmost precision and strong legal safeguards. He emphasised that no loopholes had been left in the Bill that could allow offenders to escape punishment. “This law is comprehensive and stringent enough to ensure that there will be no need for another such legislation in Punjab in the future,” he said.
The Bill was introduced earlier in the day during the special session held on the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Diwas. The Assembly proceedings began with the recitation of Gurbani. The Speaker initiated the discussion with Mool Mantar.
Leaders of various Sikh sects were also present in the House during the session. Prior to taking up the Bill, the Assembly paid tributes to departed personalities.
Notably, the legislative process follows earlier developments from July 14, 2025, when the ‘Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025’ was introduced and later referred to a 15-member select committee led by MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar for detailed deliberations.
- PTC NEWS
