Amritsar, March 31: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has announced a high-level meeting of Sikh organizations on April 6 to forge a unified consensus regarding the Punjab government’s plan to strengthen sacrilege laws. The gathering at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall follows the state’s decision to move amendments to the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008, during a special assembly session scheduled for April 13.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami stated that the collective opinion of the Panth is essential to ensure the new legislation is robust and effective. He noted that previous attempts to frame similar laws in 2016 and 2018 did not achieve the desired results and asserted that the living status of the Guru Granth Sahib must be central to any legal framework.
“The state government is bringing a law,” Dhami declared during a press conference. “It should not meet the same fate as similar laws framed in 2016 and 2018.”
The SGPC leader also called for federal intervention, maintaining that the central government should amend the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to include capital punishment for sacrilege. He stated that current laws are insufficient to bring such cases to a conclusive end. To ensure a comprehensive dialogue, the committee has invited a wide array of scholars, retired judges, Nihang groups, and representatives from the Damdami Taksal and various Sikh missionary colleges.
Dhami affirmed that while the SGPC supports stricter penalties, the Punjab government has yet to provide full clarity on its position. He noted that the committee had previously sought information regarding the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Religious Scriptures Bill, 2025, but received no response from the state’s select committee.
