Life terms, fines up to Rs 25 lakh: Punjab govt okays amending sacrilege law

The Punjab Cabinet has approved amendments to the sacrilege law, proposing life imprisonment and fines up to Rs 25 lakh to curb 'beadbi' of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Bill, to be tabled in the Assembly on April 13, aims to strengthen deterrence, with strict provisions including no defence of mental illness and DSP-level probes.

In Short

• Bhagwant Mann says excuses like mental illness to be rejected in sacrilege cases
• Law targets sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib only
• Bill to be introduced in Assembly on April 13

The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved stringent amendments to the sacrilege law to make punishments more severe, including life imprisonment. The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, cleared the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes enhanced penalties to deter incidents of ‘beadbi’ and uphold the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Announcing the move, Mann said stricter provisions will be included in the law against sacrilege during a special session. He asserted that excuses such as mental illness will no longer be accepted in defence of the accused, and the law will provide for strict punishment and heavy fines. He added that since this is an amendment to an existing Act, it will not require the President’s approval and can be implemented immediately.

According to an official statement, the decision comes in view of past incidents of sacrilege that have deeply hurt public sentiments and disturbed communal harmony. It noted that existing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 298, 299, and 300, address such matters but do not prescribe sufficiently stringent punishment to act as a strong deterrent.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the Bill proposes fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. He added that the law also seeks to punish those who mastermind sacrilege acts through mentally challenged individuals as part of a conspiracy. Investigations into such cases will be conducted by officers of Deputy Superintendent of Police rank, he said.

Cheema clarified that the proposed law applies only to sacrilege against the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, and does not cover other religious texts.

The Cabinet decided to amend the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008 to strengthen legal measures aimed at safeguarding religious sanctity and promoting mutual respect, understanding, and communal harmony in society.

The amended Bill will be introduced in the Punjab Assembly on Monday during a special session convened on April 13. The government said the proposed legislation is expected to act as a strong deterrent and contribute to maintaining peace and communal goodwill in the state.

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