Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved the ‘Punjab Prevention of Crime against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025’, paving the way for stringent punishment, including life imprisonment, for those found guilty of sacrilege of any holy book.
According to officials, past incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and other holy texts had deeply hurt people’s sentiments. The Cabinet noted that existing sections 298, 299 and 300 of the Indian Penal Code do not prescribe stringent punishment to effectively prevent such incidents.
Considering the gravity of these crimes and the need to maintain communal harmony and religious sanctity, the Cabinet decided to bring in a state-level law to make punishments more stringent. The bill provides for life imprisonment for those convicted of desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Holy Bible, Quran Sharif and other holy scriptures.
Officials said that the law will strengthen efforts to maintain peace, unity and communal harmony in the state while helping curb anti-social and anti-national activities by ensuring strict punishment for perpetrators of such crimes.
At present, there is no specific law addressing crimes against holy scriptures, resulting in many accused escaping serious action. The proposed legislation aims to fill this legal vacuum by covering sacrilege cases involving all religions and communities.
Under the bill, anyone found guilty of sacrilege can face a jail term ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Those attempting the crime may face imprisonment between three to five years, while individuals involved in abetment will be punished according to the severity of the crime.
