Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a major legislative move, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced on Saturday, March 28, 2026, that a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will be convened on Baisakhi (April 13) to introduce rigorous amendments to the state’s sacrilege laws. Addressing a massive public gathering in Fatehgarh Sahib, the Chief Minister detailed plans to amend the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008. The proposed changes aim to mandate a minimum of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, extending up to a life sentence, for any individual found guilty of beadbi (sacrilege) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the decision stems from a firm commitment to protecting the religious sanctity of the holy scripture and ensuring that no one “dares to disrespect” it in the future. During his address, Mann took a sharp swipe at the previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) administration, specifically criticizing Sukhbir Singh Badal for failing to deliver justice in past sacrilege and police firing cases at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan. He asserted that these incidents remain a deep wound in the public consciousness and that his government is dedicated to holding the perpetrators accountable through a legally airtight framework.
To ensure the new provisions are effectively implemented and constitutionally sound, the state government has begun high-level consultations with legal experts and the Sant Samaj (religious leadership). This legislative push is seen as a strategic effort to address long-standing public sentiment regarding religious harmony while strengthening the state’s judicial response to sensitive communal issues. The announcement marks a significant escalation in the Punjab government’s policy toward religious offences as it enters its fifth year in power.
