Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday introduced a new bill in the state assembly aimed at preventing sacrilege of religious scriptures. The bill, named the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, proposes strict punishments—from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, along with a fine of up to ₹10 lakh for anyone found guilty of sacrilege.
Although the bill was presented in the Vidhan Sabha in the afternoon, discussions on it were postponed until Tuesday morning. After the debate, it is likely to be sent to a Select Committee to get feedback from all stakeholders.
The bill covers sacred texts such as the Guru Granth Sahib (including Pothis and Gutka Sahib), the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran, and the Bible.
Those convicted under this law will face:
Mandatory jail time (minimum 10 years, up to life)
Fine between ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh
The offences will be cognizable (police can arrest without warrant) and non-compoundable (cannot be settled out of court)
Cases will be tried in a Sessions Court
Only police officers of DSP rank or higher can investigate such cases
This bill replaces the earlier Punjab Amendment Act, 2018, which was returned by the central government due to changes brought by the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) that replaced the old Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The bill comes amid growing demand for stricter laws on sacrilege, especially from protestors in Samana, who have been pressing for harsher punishment.
The government said that deliberate acts of sacrilege have been used to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab, and this new law aims to send a strong message.
The bill also includes punishment for those who support or encourage sacrilege. Anyone who instigates, plans, or helps commit such acts—like burning, tearing, defacing, or destroying religious texts—could face 3 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to ₹3 lakh.
The bill was approved earlier in the day by the Punjab Cabinet, headed by CM Mann, before being tabled in the Assembly.
Just before the bill was introduced, the Assembly was adjourned for an hour. During that break, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan called an all-party meeting to inform members about the bill.
When the session resumed, CM Mann formally presented the bill.
Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, requested the Assembly to delay the discussion by a day, saying MLAs should get at least 48 hours to study the bill due to its serious nature. He also noted that the bill would eventually require Presidential approval, so careful consideration was necessary.
Once passed, the law will apply across all of Punjab and will come into effect once published in the Official Gazette. It will override any conflicting laws currently in place.