Punjab Governor Approves Stringent Guru Granth Sahib Protection Legislation
In a significant move, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has granted his assent to 'The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill 2026,' officially enacting it as law in the state. This legislation introduces rigorous penalties, including life imprisonment, for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, aiming to safeguard the sanctity of the holy scripture.
Chief Minister Announces Law with Gratitude
Following the governor's approval on April 17, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann shared the signed assent page on social media platform X on Sunday. He expressed profound gratitude, stating, "Now this bill has become law. Immensely thankful to Waheguru (Almighty) for taking this service from a humble person like me. Gratitude to the entire sangat." The bill had been passed unanimously by the Punjab assembly during a special session on April 13, with a notification set to mark the commencement of the Act.
Detailed Penalties and Provisions of the Act
The Act outlines specific punishments for offences related to the Guru Granth Sahib:
- Offences against the Guru Granth Sahib carry a minimum imprisonment of seven years, extendable to 20 years, along with fines up to Rs 10 lakh.
- Sacrilege involving criminal conspiracy and intent to disrupt peace or communal harmony is punishable by a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, with fines up to Rs 25 lakh.
- Desecration of other Sikh religious texts, apart from the Guru Granth Sahib, can result in up to five years in prison and fines up to Rs 10 lakh.
Additionally, the Act mandates that investigations into sacrilege cases be conducted by officers not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police. It broadly defines sacrilege to include physical acts like burning or tearing, as well as spoken, written, or electronic representations intended to hurt religious sentiments.
Legal Framework and Regulatory Measures
All offences under this Act are classified as cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable, with trials to be held in sessions courts. To ensure the sanctity and respect of the Guru Granth Sahib in line with Sikh Rehat Maryada, the Act prohibits any person from printing, publishing, storing, distributing, or supplying saroops (copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib, except for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) or bodies authorized by it.
The SGPC is tasked with maintaining a central registry, in both physical and electronic forms, to record details regarding the printing, storage, distribution, and supply of saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib.
Historical Context and Legislative Journey
This legislation arrives a decade after initial efforts by the then SAD-BJP led government in Punjab in March 2016. That earlier bill proposed amendments to central laws and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), suggesting life terms for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib. It was prompted by the October 2015 sacrilege incident in Bargari village and subsequent firing in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, which resulted in the deaths of two protesters. However, the central government returned the bill, citing concerns about singling out a single religion in a secular constitution.
After a change in government, when Congress formed the administration with Captain Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister, the Punjab assembly passed an IPC and CrPC amendment bill in August 2018. This bill proposed life imprisonment for sacrilege not only of the Guru Granth Sahib but also of the Gita, Quran, and Bible. It remains pending with the President.
Ongoing Legislative Efforts
Concurrently, a Punjab assembly select committee, headed by AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar, is examining a broader bill titled the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025. Its draft provisions include a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib or extracts like Pothis and Gutka Sahib, as well as the Gita, Quran, and Bible. Formed in July 2025 after the bill's introduction, the committee received a six-month extension on April 13 to continue its review.
