Controversy Brews Over Punjab's Anti-Sacrilege Law

A legal battle is on the horizon as a petition has been lodged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the recently introduced anti-sacrilege law by the Punjab government. This contentious legislation seeks to impose harsher punishments for acts of sacrilege against the sacred Guru Granth Sahib.

The act, known as the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, was passed unanimously by the Punjab assembly and received the governor's assent. However, the petitioner, Simranjeet Singh from Jalandhar, contends that the law is void because it lacks the President's approval, a requirement for laws inconsistent with existing legislation like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Critically, the petitioner argues that the law enforces a disproportionate penalty structure, mandating life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit sacrilege, and fails to uphold the constitutional principle of ‘Equality before Law’ by excluding other religious texts. This plea challenges the constitutional validity of the act, asserting it to be arbitrary and non-secular.