Amritsar: A meeting of a 15-member high-level sub-committee constituted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) was held in Chandigarh on Friday to deliberate on the proposed Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Religious Scriptures Bill, 2025, which concerns acts of sacrilege against religious texts of all faiths.A SGPC release said members unanimously felt the CM’s recent remarks on the bill have created confusion. Sub-committee chairman Justice Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi (retd) clarified that the CM’s March 22 statement referred to the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008, which deals with printing, publication, distribution, and supply of Guru Granth Sahib. Members expressed concern that the govt’s statements were blurring the distinction between the two, said the release. The sub-committee observed that despite the CM’s claim that amendments to the 2008 Act would be made after consulting legal experts and religious institutions, no consultation has been held with the SGPC so far. The meeting was attended by sub-committee chairman retired Justice Bedi, along with senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, former district attorney Baltej Singh Dhillon and former Punjab School Education Board chairman Kehar Singh.MSID:: 129848259 413 |
