Bathinda: Even as the Punjab government has passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, which proposes stringent punishments for 'beadbi' (sacrilege) of the Sikh holy scripture, proceedings in the three 2015 sacrilege cases remain stalled at a local court in Chandigarh.
Delay Due to Supreme Court Petition
The delay is primarily attributed to the pending status of a petition in the Supreme Court filed by Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim. The petition challenges the Punjab government's decision to withdraw the investigation from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). During the last hearing on April 29, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered that trial court proceedings before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Chandigarh remain stayed until further orders. Consequently, the CJM court adjourned the hearing on Thursday to September 24.
Previous Hearings Adjourned
Earlier, during hearings on May 8, 2025, July 31, 2025, September 25, 2025, December 11, 2025, and March 12, 2026, the court stated that further orders from the Supreme Court had not been received. These cases were transferred from Faridkot to Chandigarh in 2023 following Supreme Court directives. Later, the related Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing cases were also shifted to Chandigarh in May 2024 and April 2026, respectively.
Background of the Case
While the Punjab government transferred the cases to the CBI on November 3, 2015, it issued a notification on September 6, 2018, withdrawing its consent. Gurmeet Ram Rahim challenged this decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, arguing that jurisdiction cannot be reclaimed by the state once a case is handed over to a central agency.
The ongoing stay has effectively halted all progress in the sacrilege cases, leaving victims and the public awaiting justice. The next hearing in the Supreme Court is expected to provide further clarity on the matter.
