Punjab Assembly Passes Strict Anti-Sacrilege Bill with Life Term Provision
The Punjab Legislative Assembly passed a Bill against acts of sacrilege with strict provisions: offences will be non-bailable, with imprisonment up to life term and fines up to ₹25 lakh. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the law ensures swift investigation. The Bill specifically targets desecration of religious texts and worship places. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) called for effective implementation.
Key Facts & Details
9 points- 1Punjab Assembly passes anti-sacrilege Bill with life imprisonment provision
- 2Maximum fine: ₹25 lakh
- 3Offences made non-bailable
- 4Aims at swift investigation of sacrilege incidents
Deep Dive
- +Bhagwant Mann is Chief Minister of Punjab (AAP)
- +Sacrilege of religious texts is a sensitive issue in Punjab politics, particularly post-2015 Bargari incidents
- +The Bill amends Indian Penal Code provisions on religious offences as applicable to Punjab
- +SGPC manages Sikh gurdwaras under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925
- +State legislatures can amend criminal law subject to Concurrent List provisions
Exam Focus
Likely MCQ: What is the maximum punishment under Punjab's new anti-sacrilege Bill? → Answer: Life imprisonment and ₹25 lakh fine
Related Topics
Exam Relevance & Angle
State legislation, criminal law amendments and constitutional federalism are repeat questions for UPSC and Banking exams.
Target Exams
Background & Context
Sacrilege — desecration of holy texts, religious symbols or sacred sites — has been a politically sensitive issue in Punjab, particularly after the Bargari sacrilege incidents of 2015 involving the Guru Granth Sahib.
Under the Indian Constitution, 'criminal law' falls under the Concurrent List (List III, Schedule 7), allowing both Parliament and State Legislatures to legislate. State amendments require Presidential assent under Article 254.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC) from July 1, 2024 — covers offences related to religion under Sections 298-302. Punjab's new law extends and intensifies these provisions for the state.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — established under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 — manages Sikh gurdwaras and is the apex religious body of Sikhs.
Related GK Concepts
Must KnowTest Yourself
1 / 3Who is the current Chief Minister of Punjab?
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