Punjab Anti-Sacrilege Bill Tabled In Assembly: Life Imprisonment Proposed For Offences Against Religious Scriptures

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Monday tabled the anti-sacrilege Bill in the Punjab assembly, proposing punishment up to life imprisonment for offences against religious scriptures.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann introduced the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill 2025 in the assembly on the third day of the ongoing special session.

The religious scriptures referred to in the Act include Guru Granth Sahib, or its extracts, Bhagavad Gita, Quran and Bible, among others. The discussions on the Bill will be held on Tuesday, following which it is likely to be referred to the Select Committee for discussions with all stakeholders.

An individual convict under the proposed law will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh, which may be extended to Rs 10 lakh. Only police officers of the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and above will be authorised to investigate such cases.

The Bill which was tabled in the assembly after the clearance of Cabinet held earlier in the day, also includes punishment for abetment of sacrilege – anyone who instigates to commit acts like damaging, defacing or destroying of any holy scripture or its part will face three to five years imprisonment, along with a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.

According to the government, there have been many attempts to disturb peace and communal harmony in the state by committing sacrilege against these scriptures. This Bill is meant to send a strong message through harsh punishment. There will also be no parole for those guilty of sacrilege acts.

There has not been a specific law, until now, directly addressing offences against holy scriptures which often resulted in leniency or evasion of serious action by the culprits and this Act, thus, aims to fill that legal void by prescribing punishments for acts of sacrileges across all sects and faiths.

There is also a provision for setting up special courts to handle cases of sacrileges.