Punjab CM Mann Calls for Consensus on Anti-Sacrilege Law Amid Akal Takht Concerns

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday met a seven-member committee reviewing concerns over amendments to the state's anti-sacrilege law, stressing that legal reforms must protect the sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib while addressing religious and constitutional considerations.

Mann reiterated that the Akal Takht is supreme and said the government would make every effort to strengthen the legal framework against sacrilege. He maintained that provisions providing for life imprisonment and heavy fines for perpetrators constitute the core of the law and should not be diluted.

The meeting focused on the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, including objections raised over certain provisions and possible changes through consultation and consensus.

Mann directed the committee to hold detailed discussions with the five-member panel constituted by the Akal Takht, taking its suggestions into account while examining the legal, constitutional and other implications of the legislation.

The review has significant religious sensitivities, with objections raised over Sikh terminology used in the legislation, the description of the person responsible for the religious text as its “custodian”, and provisions assigning unique numbers to the holy Birs.

The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the amendment Bill on April 13, and it received the Governor's assent on April 17 before being notified as an Act.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj had on June 29 asked the state government to address objections to the law within a month. On July 30, he rejected the government's response as unsatisfactory and constituted a five-member committee for further engagement with the AAP government.

The issue also carries political implications, as the state government seeks to balance stringent punishment for sacrilege with concerns raised by Sikh religious authorities. Mann said consultations should lead to an amicable resolution without compromising the law's core objective of protecting Guru Granth Sahib.