CHANDIGARH, July 31— Legal protections and traditional terminology are being explicitly integrated into Punjab’s anti-sacrilege bill to ensure innocent caretakers are not harassed while severe penalties are reserved for deliberate desecration. Following consultations with religious leadership, parliamentarian Malvinder Singh Kang announced that amendments aligning with suggestions from Sri Akal Takht Sahib have been drafted for formal introduction in the legislative assembly.
The legislation establishes that custodians and sevadars will not be held criminally liable for accidents, technical glitches, or actions lacking criminal intent. To safeguard caretakers, the law mandates an independent inquiry led by an officer of SP or DCP rank before any formal proceedings can begin, alongside timely notification to designated SGPC authorities.
Clarifying the administration’s stance on religious freedom, Parliamentarian Malvinder Singh Kang declared that routine devotional practices face no restriction. “The Bhagwant Mann Government’s intention is absolutely clear,” Mr. Kang maintained. “This law is not against the Sikh Sangat, sevadars, or religious institutions. It is meant only to ensure exemplary punishment for those who deliberately insult Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and to prevent such painful incidents from recurring.”
The law leaves digital broadcasting, academic research, and standard religious ceremonies completely unhindered. Furthermore, the central register containing encrypted identification numbers for Saroops will remain under the sole custody of the SGPC, accessible to investigative agencies only through formal administrative channels. State authorities also plan to request the central government to implement similar legal protections across the nation to address desecration uniformly.
