Stricter anti-sacrilege bill gets Punjab assembly nod

The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a bill proposing life imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 25 lakh for any act of “sacrilege” involving the Guru Granth Sahib, The Hindu reported.

The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Bill 2026 was tabled by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special session of the Assembly. The bill proposes stringent amendments to a 2008 law on sacrilege.

Mann said the amendments address long-standing gaps in the framework left by previous governments.

“If the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is not safe in Punjab, then where else can it be?” the newspaper quoted the Aam Aadmi Party leader as saying. “This bill is a historic milestone to check beadbi [sacrilege]…”