Chandigarh, April 19 -- The Punjab government has officially implemented the 'Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Bill', with the Governor of Punjab granting assent to the legislation mandating life imprisonment for those found guilty of desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Sunday, Cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema termed the legislation a decisive step to uphold the sanctity of religious scriptures and maintain communal harmony. He alleged that incidents of sacrilege had occurred during the tenure of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government, citing the 1986 Nakodar case and the 2015 Bargari and Behbal Kalan incidents.
Cheema said successive governments failed to deliver justice despite setting up multiple commissions and Special Investigation Teams, claiming that key records went missing and investigations remained incomplete, allowing the accused to evade action.
Highlighting developments since 2022, he said the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has expedited long-pending probes. "For the first time, influential individuals who earlier enjoyed political protection have had to seek anticipatory bail," he said, asserting that all those involved would be brought to justice, irrespective of status.
Cheema said the amended law is designed to be stringent and comprehensive, holding not only those directly involved in acts of sacrilege but also conspirators accountable. He added that the legislation addresses the defence of "mental instability" often cited in such cases.
In instances where the accused is under guardianship, the guardian can also be held liable for negligence.
Calling it a key promise fulfilled by the state government and Arvind Kejriwal, Cheema said the law sends a strong message against attempts to disturb Punjab's social fabric.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.