AMRITSAR, May 12 -- The Akal Takht on Monday shot off a letter to Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, citing objections to the recently enacted anti-sacrilege law, including clauses that legally mandate the SGPC to maintain a digital registry of all saroops and placing Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh institutions, granthis, pathis, gurdwara committees and sewadars within a legal framework that, it said, amounts to direct government interference in Sikh affairs. The letter comes days after Sandhwan appeared before Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh Dhanaula to clarify the government's position regarding the Act, which provides for stringent punishments, including life imprisonment and fines up to Rs.25 lakh, for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib. On May 8, the Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, had also given a 15-day ultimatum to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to remove objectionable clauses which "hurt Sikh sentiments and interfere in Panthic affairs". With voices of roll back getting shriller, chief minister Bhagwant Mann had categorically refused to withdraw the Act, saying there is no question of taking back the legislation which has overwhelming support from the sangat (Sikh community) across the world. The anti-sacrilege bill, which proposed amendments to the original 2008 Act, was passed unanimously by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during a special one-day session on April 13. Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria accorded assent to the bill on April 17, and it was notified by the Punjab government on April 20. The letter also asks Sandhwan to apprise the Akal Takht after taking the necessary steps. Apart from the objections, the Akal Takht has also asked the government to remove words like "store", "storage", and "supply" regarding the holy book from the Act and asked it to replace them with 'more respectful terminology, such as 'Sewa Sambhal'. It has also asked the government to clearly state that in case of any sacrilege, the holy scriptures, including Guru Granth Sahib, pothis, sanchis, or Gutka Sahibs, will not be taken to police stations or courts. It said instead the saroops are to be handed over with respect and procedure to SGPC for their last rites at Gurdwara Sri Baoli Sahib. The letter also categorically asserted that only Akal Takht has the authority to determine any rules or maryada concerning Guru Granth Sahib, Khalsa Panth, and the Sikh community, and no state legislature or government has the authority to frame such religious regulations....