Punjab Assembly Introduces Bill With Punishment Upto Life Term For Sacrilege Of Holy Scriptures

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday (14 July) introduced the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025 in the Punjab Assembly, reported Hindustan times.

The cabinet, chaired by Mann, had approved the state-specific law before the third day of the special Assembly session.

The Bill proposes prison terms from 10 years to life for desecrating holy scriptures like the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Bible, and Quran. Attempting the offence may lead to three to five years in jail, while abettors will face punishment tied to the main offence.

An official spokesperson noted that the Bill's goal is to ensure communal harmony, amity, peace, and fraternity amongst the people of the state. He stated that the harsh punishment would curb such activities.

The cabinet cited past incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib and other revered texts, which have caused deep public distress and unrest. The spokesperson noted: While sections 298, 299 and 300 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, address such issues, they do not prescribe sufficiently stringent penalties to serve as an effective deterrent.

Given the gravity of such offenses and the need to maintain communal harmony and religious sanctity, the Cabinet decided to introduce state-specific legislation that would provide enhanced penalties, including life imprisonment, for those convicted of sacrilege against any holy granth, according to the spokesperson.

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