Punjab Assembly Set to Table Anti-Sacrilege Bill

Fast Summary:

• punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced plans to introduce a draft bill in the state Assembly proposing stricter punishment for sacrilege of religious scriptures.
• The Cabinet approved the draft bill during a meeting ahead of the assembly’s special session on July 14, 2025.
• Key provisions reportedly include life imprisonment, prohibition of parole for convicted offenders, and special courts to handle desecration-related cases.
• CM Mann stated that while drafting the legislation, stakeholder consultations would occur and public opinion would be solicited before finalizing laws.
• Mr. Mann highlighted gaps in existing national legislation (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), which does not cover sacrilege of holy scriptures comprehensively.He noted state jurisdiction under concurrent list provisions for such laws.
• Sacrilege penalties have been attempted previously:

– 2016: SAD-BJP proposed bills focused solely on Guru Granth Sahib; these were rejected by the Center over secularism concerns.
– 2018: amarinder Singh-led government passed bills covering multiple religious scriptures, but they failed to receive presidential assent.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

Sacrilege is an emotionally charged issue in Punjab due to its cultural and past significance. The proposed anti-sacrilege law reflects efforts by successive governments to address public outrage following incidents like those in Faridkot (2015). While previous legislative attempts were hindered by constitutional or procedural challenges at higher levels-emphasizing secular treatment across faiths-the current initiative may benefit from broader consultations with stakeholders as promised by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

If enacted effectively with public support and legal clarity, this specialized legislation could strengthen trust between communities and governance systems. However, implementation mechanisms like special courts will need streamlined processes to ensure justice while avoiding misuse or undue delays. Balancing constitutional principles with regional concerns remains critical as Punjab advances such proposals.

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