In assertion of its authority over the political class, all 87 Sikh MLAs across party lines, including ministers, appeared before Akal Takht after being summoned. During the proceedings, several AAP MLAs admitted they had not fully read the bill before it was unanimously passed by the assembly.
The directions came after Akal Takht objected to several provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, saying it had been enacted without consulting the Sikh Panth and that certain provisions encroached upon matters of Sikh religious doctrine.
The hearing was presided over by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh, Granthi Giani Baljeet Singh, Giani Keval Singh and Giani Mangal Singh, with Gargajj leading the proceedings.
AAP MLA Inderbir Nijjar requested that live telecast be stopped, arguing that the issue was highly sensitive. The request was declined.
Gargajj said the purpose of the exercise was not to embarrass MLAs but to safeguard the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib while addressing concerns relating to religious terminology, custodianship and the Sikh code of conduct.
Akal Takht reiterated that while it had no objection to stringent punishment for sacrilege, the Punjab assembly had no authority to legislate on Sikh religious terminology. Among its objections are replacing the word “Bir” with “Saroop”, provisions relating to “custodians” of the Guru Granth Sahib and assigning unique identification numbers to its copies.Gargajj also sought the inclusion of a provision to register an FIR against a Dera chief if desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib is carried out by any follower of that Dera as part of a conspiracy. At the end of the proceedings, MLAs raised their hands in support of incorporating the amendments sought by Akal Takht. Gargajj gave the Punjab government one month to carry out the changes and asked it not to implement the law until then.
Punjab’s FM Harpal Singh Cheema said Akal Takht would send its proposed amendments through the assembly Speaker and that the government would examine them and take a decision within the stipulated period. The anti-sacrilege law, passed unanimously on April 13, provides for life imprisonment for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.
