Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said the culprits of sacrilege incidents could no longer escape the clutches of law and hailed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, as a step towards establishing “communal harmony and respect for religious sentiments”.Mann said most of the time it had been noticed that those accused of sacrilege pretended to be mentally upset, but the new law stipulated that even the guardians of such a person would be booked for this “unpardonable crime”.Speaking in the Vidhan Sabha, the CM said, “The definition of ‘custodian’ has been introduced, making each custodian fully responsible for the safe custody, protection and prevention of misuse or loss (Section 3B).”He added, “The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008, has now been amended as the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to promote communal harmony and national unity and to provide stricter punishments, including life imprisonment, for acts of desecration.”“Provisions have been made to ensure timely and efficient investigation of cases (Section 4A), and the offences under this law will be non-bailable and non-compoundable (Section 4B),” said Mann.“As per the Act, punishments have been enhanced with a fine of up to Rs 20 lakh and imprisonment up to life (Section 5). Offences have been categorised into five types, as violation of provisions of the Act will invite punishment up to 5 years in prison and Rs 10 lakh fine,” he said.“Desecration of the holy scripture will be liable for 7 to 20 years imprisonment and a fine ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Desecration with intent to disturb social or religious harmony will invite punishment from 10 years to life imprisonment and a Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh fine,” said the CM Mann further said, “Abetment will invite punishment similar to that for the main offence. An attempt to commit an offence will be liable for 3 to 5 years of imprisonment and Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh as a fine. The legislation will act as a strong deterrent against such malicious acts and will help maintain peace, communal harmony and respect for religious sentiments in the state,” he added.MSID:: 130241036 413 |
