Chandigarh: Punjab has enforced stricter action against sacrilege incidents after Governor Gulab Chand Kataria approved the ‘Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Bill 2026’, making it a law in the state.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann confirmed the development through a social media post, stating that the bill has now officially come into force. He also expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to implement such legislation.
The bill was unanimously passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on April 13, coinciding with Vaisakhi. The state government had earlier clarified that since it is an amendment to a state law, it did not require presidential assent and could be implemented after the governor’s approval.
With this move, the state has introduced stringent provisions to deal with cases of sacrilege, signalling a tougher legal stance on such offences.
