Meeting of the High-Level Committee Formed by the Shiromani Committee was held Regarding the “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025”

Meeting of the High-Level Committee Formed by the Shiromani Committee was held Regarding the “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025” 

Says: Failure to Provide Information Sought by the Shiromani Committee Raises Questions About Government’s Intentions

Amritsar 27 March ( PDL ) : A meeting of the fifteen-member high-level sub-committee constituted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in connection with the proposed “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025” by the Punjab Government was held at its sub-office in Chandigarh. The meeting was attended by Justice (Retd.) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, Senior Advocate Puran Singh Hundal, former District Attorney Advocate Baltej Singh Dhillon, former Chairman of Punjab School Education Board Kehar Singh, Sikh History Research Board members Dr. Parmvir Singh and Bibi Prabhjot Kaur, SGPC member Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Advocate Amardeep Singh Dharni, Advocate Barjinder Singh Sodhi, SGPC Legal Advisor Amanbir Singh Siali, and Assistant Secretary Lakhvir Singh (Coordinator). During the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding the recent press statement given by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, earlier meetings of the sub-committee, and the meeting held with the Legislative Assembly Select Committee in the Assembly building.

After the meeting, while addressing the press, Sub-Committee Chairman Justice (Retd.) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi stated that all members of the sub-committee felt that the Chief Minister’s statement about enacting strict laws to prevent disrespect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji has created confusion. He said that the statement issued by the Chief Minister on March 22 relates to “The Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act 2008,” which deals with the printing, publication, distribution, and supply of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. However, the sub-committee referred to in the Chief Minister’s statement is related to the proposed “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025,” which concerns offences against the religious scriptures of all religions. He said that the sub-committee feels that the Chief Minister’s statements are creating confusion between the proposed bill of 2025 and “The Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act 2008.” Regarding the Chief Minister’s statement that amendments would be made to “The Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act 2008” after consultation with eminent lawyers and religious institutions, he said that the SGPC, being the representative body of Sikhs, has neither been contacted by the Punjab Government so far nor has any draft of the proposed amendments been shared with it.

He said that the government’s intentions are also evident from the fact that the information repeatedly sought by the SGPC through various letters regarding the law to be enacted against sacrilege is not being shared by Punjab Government. The Select Committee, the Assembly Secretariat, and the Punjab Government have been deliberately avoiding providing the requested documents and information. He said that the Select Committee constituted by the Punjab Legislative Assembly had, through letter No. 11291 dated August 19, 2025, sought suggestions from the SGPC regarding the proposed “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025,” in response to which the SGPC constituted a fifteen-member sub-committee comprising eminent lawyers, distinguished scholars, and respected social personalities. In the meetings held from time to time, the sub-committee examined in depth the constitutional, religious, political, and historical aspects of the proposed law. In this regard, some members of the sub-committee had visited the Punjab Legislative Assembly Secretariat on September 3, 2025, and submitted a letter to the Chairman of the Select Committee requesting certain information. The information sought included the shortcomings in the bills passed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 2016 and 2018 that are proposed to be addressed through this bill, details of objections raised by the Central Government regarding those bills, information on steps proposed by the government to resolve those objections, and provisions made to prevent possible misuse of the proposed law. It was also pointed out that the Punjabi translation of the bill contains serious errors and should be reviewed by language experts so that no one can take advantage of any ambiguity or misuse it. It was further stated that some provisions of the bill are legally unclear, which could lead to misuse and create obstacles in the legal process.

He said that the SGPC had sought information on the above points, which is essential to fulfill the requirement of reasonableness of the law under Article 14 of the Constitution. Despite writing several letters at different times, the Punjab Legislative Assembly and the Punjab Government have neither provided the requested information nor responded to those letters. The government has also not established any communication with the SGPC or the sub-committee constituted by it.

He said that the SGPC had also written several reminders to the Punjab Home Department seeking information regarding correspondence with the Central Government under Article 200 of the Constitution concerning the bills passed in 2016 and 2018, including the actions, suggestions, and decisions taken by the Central Government or the Indian Parliament in this regard.

He stated that during the meeting, the sub-committee felt that due to the non-provision of records and information by the Punjab Government, Home Department, and Legislative Assembly, it is not possible to provide suggestions on the proposed “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025” without examining the suggestions and objections raised by the Central Government regarding the proposed amendments in Section 295A and the Criminal Procedure Code in 2016 and 2018, as well as proposals to enhance punishment under Section 295A. The committee also discussed in depth that Indian society is diverse from historical and social perspectives, as it is a mixture of different religions, sects, and beliefs. The religious texts, modes of worship, social customs, and standards of reverence toward religious scriptures vary among all communities. The sense of respect for sacred texts among followers of different religions also varies and is the result of centuries-old religious traditions, recognized philosophies, and the evolution of belief systems. For these reasons, religious sentiments are not uniform but arise from the context of respective religious texts and the thinking of specific communities.

Therefore, the members of the sub-committee believe that from a social perspective as well, religion in India is not merely a matter of belief but a social institution that influences a person’s identity, morality, and entire life. They said that the information sought by the SGPC is extremely necessary in order to provide meaningful suggestions to the Legislative Assembly’s Select Committee regarding the proposed bill, and only after receiving this information can appropriate suggestions be submitted. However, despite repeated letters from the SGPC, the government’s deliberate failure to provide the requested records and information is highly unfortunate. This conduct of not providing the requested information to the SGPC indicates that the letter issued by the Select Committee seeking suggestions from the SGPC is merely a formality.