Punjab tables tough Anti-Sacrilege Bill with life term provision

In a significant legislative push, the government led by Bhagwant Mann has introduced a bill in the Punjab Assembly proposing stringent punishment, including life imprisonment, for acts of sacrilege involving the Guru Granth Sahib.

The proposed legislation, presented during a special session, seeks to enhance penalties to deter incidents of “beadbi” (desecration). It prescribes a minimum prison term of 10 years , extendable to life imprisonment, along with fines ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh for those found guilty.

The move comes amid rising concerns over repeated sacrilege incidents that have disrupted public order and strained communal harmony in the state. The government has maintained that existing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are inadequate to address the gravity of such offences.

The bill has garnered support across political lines, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa backing the intent behind the legislation. However, he also called for greater legal scrutiny, questioning whether constitutional experts were consulted and seeking clarity on pending justice in earlier sacrilege cases, particularly those reported in 2015.

The proposed law highlights the state’s emphasis on preserving the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib, which holds profound religious and emotional significance in Punjab. At the same time, it has sparked debate over its constitutional validity and the potential for misuse of stringent provisions.

As the Assembly deliberates further, the bill reflects both a strong policy stance aimed at deterrence and the broader challenge of balancing religious sensitivities with legal safeguards.