The Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing significantly stricter legal provisions to address acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib. The legislation, tabled by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is designed to act as a strong deterrent by expanding the scope of offences and imposing harsher punishments.
Under the new provisions, sacrilege offences will attract severe penalties, including imprisonment ranging from seven to twenty years, along with fines between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. In more serious cases involving conspiracy aimed at disturbing public order or communal harmony, the punishment can extend from ten years to life imprisonment, with fines going up to Rs 25 lakh. Even attempts to commit such acts are punishable with jail terms of three to five years and monetary penalties.
The law broadens the definition of sacrilege to include a wide range of actions, such as damage, defacement, burning, tearing, theft, or any form of expression—whether spoken, written, symbolic, or digital—that is deemed to hurt religious sentiments. This expanded definition aims to cover both physical and non-physical forms of desecration in a comprehensive manner.
A key structural change introduced by the Bill is the requirement that all investigations into such offences be conducted by senior police officials, specifically those not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police or Assistant Commissioner. This provision is intended to ensure greater accountability and seriousness in handling sensitive cases.
The legislation also assigns a crucial administrative role to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which will be responsible for maintaining a centralised register of all ‘Saroops’ (physical copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib. This database will include detailed information such as identification numbers, printing and distribution records, storage locations, and custodianship, and will be maintained in both digital and physical formats. Custodians will be legally obligated to ensure proper handling in accordance with religious protocols, with violations attracting penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10 lakh.
The Bill received broad political support, including backing from opposition leaders such as Partap Singh Bajwa, although some concerns were raised regarding legal scrutiny and the handling of past sacrilege cases. The move comes after earlier legislative attempts in 2016 and 2018 failed to secure presidential approval, highlighting the longstanding demand for stricter laws on the issue.
Overall, the amendment represents a significant tightening of legal safeguards around religious sanctity in Punjab, aiming to address gaps in existing laws and respond to persistent public concerns over sacrilege incidents.
