Punjab governor approves anti‑sacrilege law imposing life term and ₹25 lakh fine
Punjab prosecutors must charge sacrilege cases under the new Act
Change
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria gave assent to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, creating a new offence for sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib with penalties including life imprisonment and fines up to ₹25 lakh.
Why it matters
The amendment creates a distinct statutory offence for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, shifting classification of such incidents away from lesser charges. Police, prosecutors and courts will need to manage these matters as high‑penalty criminal cases, affecting charge framing, remand and case scheduling.
Implications
- — Punjab police investigation teams must, immediately upon receiving reports of alleged sacrilege, register and classify incidents under the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 — failure to do so will prevent prosecutors from pursuing the enhanced statutory penalties.
- — Punjab state prosecution teams must file charges under the amended Act at initial court appearance for sacrilege allegations — if they do not, courts may be unable to impose the Act's prescribed sentencing and fine framework.
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Source
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