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Jalandhar: When Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal assured justice against culprits of 2015 sacrilege cases, people in Punjab not only believed him, they also gave his party a resounding victory in Punjab. Kejriwal, then riding high on the AAP wave in Punjab, had promised justice within 48 hours of coming to power. However, four-and-a-half years later, while the sacrilege cases have been transferred out of Punjab and to Chandigarh, the AAP government, on April 13, the day of Vaisakhi, passed a new law – the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Act, 2026 – which amends the 2008 Act by the same name.

This is the third anti-sacrilege bill brought by different state governments in the past 11 years. The move comes as parties have started gearing up for the Punjab assembly elections 2027. 

While several governments have made similar attempts in the past, it was Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s swift assent to the new law on April 20 that drew the scholars, historians and the opposition’s attention, with many terming it as a tacit understanding between the AAP and the BJP.

What are the amendments?

Detailing the provisions, Chief minister Bhagwant Mann termed the amended law as a “historic correction” and promised swift action, punishment up to life imprisonment, and a penalty up to Rs 20 lakh under the newly notified law.

Mann said, “The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008, has been now amended as the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to promote communal harmony and national unity and to provide stricter punishments, including life imprisonment, for acts of desecration.”

The Act extends liability to ‘guardians’ if the accused individual is mentally incapacitated. “Most of the time, it has been noticed that the perpetrator of this act pretends to be mentally upset, but the act stipulates that even the ‘guardians’ of such a person will be booked for this unpardonable crime,” Mann said. 

It also introduces the definition of ‘custodian’, making them “fully responsible” for the safe custody, protection, and prevention of misuse or loss.

“Punishments have been enhanced with a fine up to Rs 20 lakh and imprisonment is up to life. Offences have been categorised into five types as violation of provisions of the Act will invite punishment up to 5 years imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh fine,” he said, noting that the offences will be non-bailable and non-compoundable. 

He further said that “desecration of the holy scripture will be liable for 7 to 20 years imprisonment and fine ranging to Rs 2-10 lakh. Further, desecration with intent to disturb social or religious harmony will invite punishment of 10 years to life imprisonment and Rs 5-20 lakh fine.”

Abetment also carries similar punishment, he announced, while an attempt to commit offence will be liable for three to five years of imprisonment and Rs 1-3 lakh as fine.

Past anti-sacrilege bills and a ‘tower’ protest

Several attempts have been made by three consecutive governments in Punjab to introduce an anti-sacrilege law – the first of which was made by the previous Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) government.

The SAD-BJP government brought in the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008, which made the basis for the latest amendment. It was aimed at the prevention of printing, publication, and distribution of Guru Granth Sahib by any person other than the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to maintain its sanctity according to Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Ethics).

While it was a bid to stop sacrilege incidents, the Act........

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