Amritsar: Panthic bodies on Monday resolved that Punjab govt must ensure representation of Sikh sentiments before enacting any law on sacrilege, including the proposed Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2025.At a gathering held at the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar, Sikh organisations also urged the govt to share the draft of the proposed legislation with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) so that feedback in line with Panthic views could be submitted.The resolution was adopted during deliberations on the proposed law dealing with incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. Participants unanimously stressed that any such legislation must reflect the Panthic viewpoint and uphold the living spiritual authority, reverence, traditions and unique status accorded to the Sikh scripture.The meeting, held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall, was attended by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, Akal Takht officiating jathedar and Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Tek Singh, Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib acting head granthi Giani Amarjeet Singh, and representatives of Sikh organisations, Nihang groups and religious institutions.Expressing concern over recurring incidents of sacrilege, the gathering said those responsible must face strict punishment, but maintained that laws framed without Panthic consensus would not be effective. It also called for clarity in the proposed legislation to prevent misuse and urged authorities to examine the root causes behind such incidents.The resolution stated that for Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is the living Guru and supreme spiritual authority, and said sacrilege incidents causef deep hurt within the community and require urgent preventive measures. Describing the Punjab govt’s initiative as a positive step, the resolution said the process lacked Panthic input. It asserted the SGPC, as the representative Sikh body, must convey the collective opinion of the community to the govt.The proposed law, it said, is not merely a legal measure but a matter of profound religious concern, and without incorporating Panthic sentiments, it would not yield meaningful results. The gathering stressed that the law must not become a political tool and urged the govt not to proceed unilaterally while finalising the legislation.
