Chandigarh, Sept 2026 : Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday reiterated that Sri Akal Takht Sahib is supreme for everyone and said his government would leave no stone unturned to protect the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji by ensuring the strictest possible legal framework against sacrilege. During a detailed meeting with a seven-member high-level committee constituted by the state government, the Chief Minister said life imprisonment and heavy fines for those committing sacrilege were the core provisions of the proposed law and there could be no dilution in these provisions.
The meeting, held at the Chief Minister’s residence, discussed concerns raised over certain provisions of the ‘Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satikar (Amendment) Act, 2026’ and explored ways to address them through consultation and consensus. Mann directed the committee to review the proposed amendments, consider the suggestions received and hold detailed and continuous meetings with the panel constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
He also directed the committee to ensure that the legislation remains true to its fundamental objective of protecting the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and helps provide reassurance to the Sikh community.
Mann said, “While discussing the provisions of this law with the panel constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and working towards consensus, there should be no compromise with the basic spirit and primary objective of the legislation. Life imprisonment and heavy fines for those committing sacrilege are the core provisions of this law. Therefore, there should be no dilution in them.”
The Chief Minister said the legislation had provided relief to the Sikh community, whose sentiments had been deeply hurt by repeated incidents of sacrilege. He said the provisions were intended to create a strong deterrent against those contemplating such offences.
“Our government’s primary objective is to ensure the strictest possible punishment for those accused of sacrilege so that no person dares to commit such a serious offence in the future,” Mann said. He added that concerns had been raised regarding certain provisions of the 2026 amendment law and that the government was prepared to examine them fully.
For this purpose, the state government has constituted a seven-member committee comprising prominent personalities associated with the religious sector, intellectuals and legal experts. Mann said the committee would hold detailed consultations with the panel constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and examine every aspect of the legislation before providing appropriate guidance to the state government.
He said the proposed amendments would be discussed in detail so that an acceptable solution could be reached after taking into account all legal, constitutional and other relevant aspects. The Chief Minister said he had directed nodal officer and PCS officer Harjit Singh Sandhu to ensure complete coordination for future meetings and provide the committee with the required assistance.
Mann said committee members had been asked to hold continuous meetings with the panel constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib so that the process of making necessary amendments to the law could begin through dialogue and mutual agreement.
He said regular consultations were necessary to arrive at a consensus acceptable to both sides.
“Sri Akal Takht Sahib is supreme for all of us, and I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to serve by helping create a stringent law to prevent incidents of sacrilege,” Mann said. He added that the state government would complete the entire process with full respect and sensitivity.
The Chief Minister said the Bill had been drafted after extensive consultations with legal experts, with the clear objective of ensuring that no loophole or deficiency remained that could weaken its effectiveness in the future.
He said every incident of sacrilege deeply hurt the sentiments and emotions of people and could not be tolerated.
Mann said the state government had decided to amend the existing law instead of introducing an entirely new legislation so that the amended law could subsequently be sent to the Governor for approval.
“Our objective is to ensure that the legal framework remains strong and effective while addressing every legitimate legal and constitutional concern,” he said.
Mann reiterated that his government remained fully committed to creating a stringent law that prescribed the strongest possible punishment for anyone found guilty of sacrilege.
He said incidents of sacrilege in the past had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community and stressed that protecting the sanctity and dignity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was a collective responsibility.
“We fully respect the sentiments associated with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the law provides the strongest possible framework against sacrilege,” Mann said.
He added that the proposed amendments would be pursued with sensitivity and responsibility while fully adhering to constitutional and legal principles.
“The objective of the state government is clear: the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji must be fully protected and the law must effectively fulfil its intended purpose,” he said.
Mann expressed hope that the committee’s deliberations would lead to a positive outcome in keeping with the sentiments of the Sikh community and further strengthen the legal framework for protecting the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The seven-member high-level committee that attended the meeting included former Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh; Baba Sahib Singh, representing Damdami Taksal; Sant Baba Sewa Singh Rampur Khera; Justice (Retd) Jaspal Singh; Justice (Retd) Gurbir Singh; IPS (Retd) Jatinder Singh Aulakh; and legal officer Preet Inder Pal Singh.
Sant Giani Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of Damdami Taksal, participated in the meeting online.
Director of the Punjab Bureau of Investigation L.K. Yadav, advocates G.S. Ghuman and G.P.S. Ghuman, along with other senior officials, were also present at the meeting.
