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Punjab’s proposed anti-sacrilege bill sent to Select Committee for stakeholder consultation.
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Bill proposes life imprisonment for desecration of any religious scripture.
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Past attempts in 2016 and 2018 failed to gain Centre or Presidential approval.
GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 15th July: The Punjab Assembly on Monday stopped short of passing the much-anticipated Punjab Prevention of Crimes Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025, instead referring it to a Select Committee for deeper consultation. The bill proposes life imprisonment for desecration of any religious scripture, including the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Quran, and Bible.
Despite near-unanimous sentiment in favour of stronger anti-sacrilege laws, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress raised procedural concerns. The BJP questioned the lack of public and institutional consultation, while the Congress demanded more time for review.
The proposal to form a Select Committee — which will include Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan — was passed unanimously. The committee has been tasked with consulting all stakeholders and submitting a comprehensive report within six months.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, defending the intent of the legislation, said, “Whenever incidents of desecration took place, our hearts broke. Yet, there was never a concrete law to punish such acts. Culprits often walked free after minor sentences. This bill seeks to ensure exemplary punishment for anyone desecrating religious scriptures.”
Punjab has witnessed several high-profile sacrilege incidents in the last decade, particularly related to the Guru Granth Sahib. Earlier attempts to legislate stricter punishment — in 2016 and 2018 — failed to get Central approval or presidential assent. In 2016, the Centre rejected two Punjab amendments, citing the need for religious neutrality under the Constitution.
The current bill proposes life imprisonment, going beyond existing provisions in the Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Presently, such offences fall under IPC Sections 298, 299, and 300, which carry punishments ranging from one to three years.
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