Punjab Ministers to Appear Before Akal Takht Over Sacrilege Bill

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed that all Aam Aadmi Party legislators and cabinet ministers will comply with the summons issued by the Akal Takht. Speaking in Amritsar, Mann emphasized that his administration recognizes the supreme authority of the highest temporal seat of the Sikh faith.

New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday confirmed that all Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and Cabinet ministers will appear before the Akal Takht after being summoned, reaffirming that the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs holds supreme authority for him and his party.

Addressing a press conference alongside AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal in Amritsar, Mann said, “Our MLAs and ministers have been summoned to Takht Sri Akal Takht Sahib tomorrow for some discussion, to present their point of view. And all our MLAs and ministers will go there. We consider the supremacy of Akal Takht Sahib to be the greatest….all our MLAs and ministers, as they have been called, some ministers have been asked only to clarify their point in writing, they will give it in writing.”

This comes after the Akal Takht summoned the Punjab Cabinet and all Sikh MLAs across party lines to appear on June 29, seeking an explanation over how a law concerning Sikh religious affairs was passed without consulting them.

The law in question, the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Punjab Assembly on April 13 and received the Governor’s assent within days.

Amending the 2008 Principal Act, the new law provides for a term that may extend to life imprisonment for criminal conspiracy in an offence of sacrilege of the Saroop(s) of Guru Granth Sahib with the intention to disrupt peace or communal harmony, and a fine between Rs 5 and 20 lakh.

For an offence in the Act, except the offence of sacrilege, the perpetrator shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to five years and with a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.

The main objective of the legislation was to provide for the punishment of life imprisonment for acts of sacrilege.

The law also asks the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to maintain a Central Register containing details with regard to the record of printing, storage, distribution, and supply of the Saroops of Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The register shall contain a unique identification number of each Saroop, date of printing and publication, date and place of supply, place of storage and the name and address of the custodian.

Defining the duties of a custodian, it asks them to ensure safe custody, protection from damage, misuse, or loss in any manner and observance of Sikh Rehat Maryada; and immediate reporting of any incident involving damage, disappearance, or suspected sacrilege to the concerned police and management authorities.

According to the amendment, published in Gazette on April 12, 2026, “sacrilege of the Saroop(s) of Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib” for the purposes of this Act means any wilful and deliberate act, committed with the intent of desecration by way of physical damaging, defacing, burning, tearing or theft of the Saroop(s) of Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib or part thereof, or by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic means or otherwise, which is of such a nature as to hurt the religious feelings of persons professing the Sikh faith.

History of Sacrilege Legislation in Punjab

The statutory framework governing the protection of Sikh holy scriptures fundamentally traces back to the 2008 Principal Act. Over the years, recurring instances of desecration sparked widespread public unrest and political friction across Punjab, driving continuous legislative demands for stricter penalties.

The legislative shift peaked on April 13, 2026, when the Punjab Legislative Assembly passed the updated amendment bill. By introducing life imprisonment and steep financial liabilities, the state administration sought to create a severe deterrent against sacrilege, though the swift legislative process circumvented standard religious consultations, prompting the current intervention by the Akal Takht.

FAQs

Why did the Akal Takht summon the Punjab Cabinet?

The Akal Takht issued the summons to seek an explanation from the Punjab Cabinet and all Sikh MLAs regarding the passage of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was enacted without consulting the temporal seat.

What are the maximum penalties under the new 2026 amendment bill?

The legislation mandates penalties up to life imprisonment for criminal conspiracy related to the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib Saroops, alongside statutory fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

When must the lawmakers present themselves at the Akal Takht?

All summoned ministers and legislators are scheduled to present their points of view or deliver written clarifications at the temporal seat on June 29, 2026.

What administrative duties does the bill impose on the SGPC?

The law dictates that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee must establish and manage a Central Register tracking unique identification numbers, publication timelines, supply locations, and official custodians for every holy Saroop.