Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann held an “introductory meeting” on Sunday with a state-appointed seven-member panel to address Akal Takht’s objections to Punjab’s new anti-sacrilege legislation, four days ahead of a Sept 30 deadline.After the meeting, Mann reiterated, “Akal Takht is supreme for all of us and the govt will leave no stone unturned to protect the sanctity and dignity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji through the strongest possible legal framework against sacrilege.”CM Mann, in a written statement, claimed to have told the committee, “While discussing the provisions of the law with the panel constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and working towards building consensus, the spirit and core objective of the law must not be compromised. The provisions prescribing life imprisonment and heavy fines for perpetrators of sacrilege constitute the core foundation of this law, and therefore the law must not be weakened at any cost.”Akal Takht has objected to several provisions of the amended law, particularly terminology such as replacing “bir” with “swaroop”, the definition and role of custodians and proposed centralised record-keeping, arguing that Panthic matters cannot be decided unilaterally by the state.The 2026 Act prescribes severe penalties for sacrilege involving Sikh texts. Acts against Guru Granth Sahib carried out as part of a conspiracy to disturb public order, communal harmony, or religious sentiments attract 10 years to life imprisonment and fines up to Rs 25 lakh. Other acts of sacrilege against Guru Granth Sahib carry seven to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10 lakh, while sacrilege involving other Sikh religious texts carries up to five years’ imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10 lakh. All offences are cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, requiring investigation by an officer of at least DSP/ACP rank.The govt has designated Harjeet Singh Sandhu, joint principal secretary to the CM, as nodal officer to coordinate upcoming talks with a separate five-member panel constituted by Akal Takht.
