CHANDIGARH, July 31— The state government’s proposed sacrilege legislation is designed specifically to penalize intentional offenders while fully safeguarding religious institutions and traditional practices, Aam Aadmi Party Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang stated on Thursday. Addressing concerns regarding the Jagat Jot Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Bill, Kang explained that the law will not interfere with Sikh Rehat Maryada, the jurisdiction of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, or the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The clarification comes as the state prepares to introduce legislative amendments suggested by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib during the upcoming assembly session. Among the updates is the inclusion of traditional terms such as “Bir” and “Saroop” within the legal text. Officials affirmed that caretakers or custodians—defined broadly as sevadars, institutions, or gurdwara committees—will not face immediate legal action or presumed guilt in the event of an incident involving unintentional mistakes or technical lapses.
Emphasizing the core purpose of the legislation, MP Malvinder Singh Kang affirmed that the framework aims strictly at deterrence against deliberate acts. “Our objective has never been to interfere in Sikh Religious affairs,” Mr. Kang stated. “The sole purpose of this law is to ensure that anyone who intentionally commits sacrilege faces the strictest legal punishment.”
Under the procedural guidelines, no First Information Report or arrest will occur without a mandatory high-level inquiry conducted by a Senior Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police within a thirty-day timeframe. Additionally, the SGPC will exclusively manage and maintain encrypted identification records for Saroops to protect personal data privacy, while routine religious activities including home Prakash, Anand Karaj, Nagar Kirtans, and live broadcasts remain entirely exempt from the law’s purview.
