Punjab Cabinet Passes 2025 Anti-Sacrilege Bill to Protect Religious Harmony

This groundbreaking law, set to be tabled in the ongoing Punjab Assembly session, prescribes stringent punishment, including life imprisonment, for desecrating sacred texts such as Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Holy Quran, and Bible. The bill aims to foster religious harmony and address long-standing concerns over sacrilege incidents.

Punjab approve's Anti-Sacrilege Bill

The 2025 Bill introduces harsh penalties to deter acts of desecration, classifying such offenses as non-bailable with a minimum seven-year sentence and up to life imprisonment. Special courts will be established to ensure swift trials, and offenders will be ineligible for parole or furlough. This robust framework responds to public outcry over past incidents, notably the 2015 sacrilege cases in Faridkot, which sparked widespread protests and exposed gaps in existing laws.

Bill to protect Religious Harmony

The legislation’s primary objective is to strengthen brotherhood among Punjab’s diverse religious communities. By protecting revered texts central to Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, the bill seeks to uphold the state’s ethos of communal coexistence. Chief Minister Mann emphasized, “This law will ensure respect for all faiths and send a strong message against divisive acts.” The move has garnered support from religious leaders, who see it as a step toward healing past wounds.

Life Imprisonment for Sacrilege

The bill builds on the Aam Aadmi Party’s commitment to address sacrilege, a sensitive issue in Punjab. Previous attempts, like the 2016 Punjab Protection of Holy Scriptures Bill, were struck down by the Centre for lacking inclusivity. The 2025 Bill rectifies this by covering multiple religious texts, ensuring broader acceptance. It also empowers police to act decisively, with provisions for immediate FIR registration in sacrilege cases.