Punjab's Sacrilege Standoff

Can A New Bill Bridge Faith And Fairness?

- 

The Punjab Govt.intends to introduce a new sacrilege bill that has incited extensive curiosity throughout India.

The bill aims to combat the desecration of holy books by introducing severe punishments, such as life imprisonment and capital punishment. This action occurs in response to enduring public outrage at recurrent acts of sacrilege, especially those involving the Guru Granth Sahib. The bill signifies a political shift and serves as a legal test case as the state cruise through religious sensitivities alongside constitutional responsibilities.

Historical Context and Legislative Framework

Punjab possesses a profound religious awareness — influenced by its Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities. The desecration of holy writings, particularly the Guru Granth Sahib, seen as a living Guru, has incited violent riots in the recent past. The matter gained global attention in 2015 when torn pages of the Guru Granth Sahib were discovered in Bargari village, resulting in widespread protests, police shootings, and political repercussions.In 2016, the SAD-BJP administration presented the bill, which proposed life imprisonment for sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, The Central government rejected the bill, saying that its exclusivity to Sikh scriptures violates India’s secularism as stipulated in Article 14. The Congress-led state government, under Amarinder Singh, enacted a revised bill in 2018, This legislation, encompassing the Bible, Quran, and Bhagavad Gita, was more extensive; yet, it has also stalled without presidential approval due to apprehensions of mandatory penalties and insufficient judicial discretion.

Rationale for the Bill's Revival