PunjabLaw – Akal Takht Seeks Changes to Guru Granth Sahib Protection Act
PunjabLaw – The Akal Takht has asked the Punjab government to revise the Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, within one month, raising several concerns over the language and provisions included in the legislation. The highest temporal authority of the Sikh community submitted a detailed list of suggested changes after meeting lawmakers from multiple political parties, emphasizing that laws connected to religious matters should reflect the community’s traditions and beliefs.
Lawmakers Respond to Religious Leadership
Representatives from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal attended a meeting with the five Sikh high priests to explain why the legislation had been passed without prior consultation with the Akal Takht or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The discussion lasted for around two hours, after which the legislators assured the clergy that the objections would be examined carefully and the required amendments would be introduced within the deadline.
Akal Takht Calls for Terminology Changes
Acting Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj stated that any law dealing with cases of sacrilege should respect Sikh religious sentiments and terminology. Among the recommendations submitted to the government was the replacement of the word “saroop” with “bir” wherever considered appropriate in the legislation.
Gargaj also argued that decisions regarding Sikh religious expressions should not be made by the Punjab Assembly, maintaining that such matters fall under the authority of the Akal Takht. At the same time, he made it clear that the institution supports strict legal action against individuals found guilty of desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib.
MLAs Admit They Had Not Read the Bill
One of the most notable moments during the proceedings came when Gargaj questioned AAP legislators Jagroop Singh and Kulwant Singh about whether they had read the Bill before supporting it in the Assembly. Both lawmakers acknowledged that they had not studied the legislation before voting. Jagroop Singh explained that members did not receive the draft in sufficient time to review it thoroughly.
Several senior political leaders, including Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress legislators Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Pargat Singh and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh, SAD MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia, and rebel SAD legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali, also submitted written explanations during the hearing.
At the conclusion of the meeting, all legislators present raised their hands in agreement as religious slogans were recited by the clergy.
Concerns Extend Beyond Legal Language
The Akal Takht also questioned AAP representatives regarding developments in the 2015 Bargari sacrilege case and the 2017 Maur bomb blast investigation.
In its written objections, the religious body opposed replacing the traditional terms “bir” and “birs” with “saroop” and “saroops.” It also expressed reservations about the legal definition of a custodian, provisions allowing criminal penalties for violations of religious code of conduct, and the wording used in different sections of the Act.
Further concerns were raised over proposals to maintain a central register of copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, assign unique identification numbers to them, and upload related information through an online system. According to the Akal Takht, these measures require reconsideration to ensure they align with religious sensitivities.
Background of the Legislation
The Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, was passed by the Punjab Assembly on April 13. The law prescribes life imprisonment and fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for those found guilty of conspiring to commit sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib with the intention of disturbing communal harmony. Other offences covered under the Act carry prison terms of up to five years along with fines that may reach Rs 10 lakh.