India's First Anti-Sacrilege Bill: What AAP's Punjab Move Means for Religious Offences

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16 hours ago

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Sacrilege includes any act that defaces, damages, burns, tears, or otherwise desecrates a holy scripture or any of its parts
The Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), introduced a new and stringent Bill aimed at preventing religious sacrilege on Monday. Titled The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, the proposed legislation has stirred both support and controversy for its sweeping provisions and harsh punishments.
News18 takes a detailed look at the Bill, what counts as sacrilege, and why the move matters.
What Is the Anti-Sacrilege Bill?
The Punjab cabinet approved the draft of what it calls India's first comprehensive anti-sacrilege legislation. The Bill seeks to criminalise acts of desecration or insult to sacred religious texts of all faiths, including the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Bible, and Quran Sharif.
According to NDTV, the Bill applies across faiths and aims to send a strong deterrent message after years of repeated sacrilege incidents in the state.
The proposed law was introduced during a special session of the Punjab Assembly and will be examined by a select committee before it can become a law.
What Counts as 'Sacrilege'?
Under the Bill, sacrilege is defined broadly. It includes any act that defaces, damages, burns, tears, or otherwise desecrates a holy scripture or any of its parts. This includes deliberate attempts to insult a religion through such acts.
As per Moneycontrol, the definition goes beyond physical damage to include any wilful act perceived as an insult to the holy book's sanctity. Supporters argue this is necessary to uphold religious sentiments, while critics warn that such broad definitions could be misused.
Why Has the Law Been Proposed Now?
Punjab has witnessed several high-profile incidents of sacrilege, particularly since 2015. The desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari and police firing on protesters in Behbal Kalan became flashpoints for public anger. Since then, demands for stricter legal action have grown.
Previous governments attempted to introduce similar laws. The SAD-BJP coalition passed amendments in 2016, and the Congress government followed with its own version in 2018. However, those efforts failed after objections from the Centre, particularly over singling out one religion.
The current Bill, according to The Tribune, has been worded to apply equally to scriptures of all religions in an effort to withstand legal scrutiny.
Adding urgency to the matter was a recent protest by social activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who spent over 270 days atop a mobile tower demanding action against sacrilege. His protest helped bring public and political attention back to the issue.
What Punishments Does the Bill Propose?
The penalties outlined in the bill are severe:
• Life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of committing sacrilege against a holy scripture.
• A fine ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh in addition to the prison term.
• If the act of sacrilege leads to communal violence, injury, or death, the punishment escalates to a minimum of 20 years to life imprisonment, with fines up to Rs 20 lakh.
• The Bill also states that those convicted will not be eligible for parole.
Attempts to commit sacrilege will attract 3-5 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh. Abetment of the offence is punishable similarly to committing it.
There is also a unique provision that holds guardians liable: if a minor or a person with a disability commits sacrilege, their parent or guardian may face prosecution, depending on the circumstances.
The offences under this Bill are non-bailable, non-compoundable, and cognizable. Only a police officer of the rank of DSP or above will be allowed to investigate such cases.
AAP Vs Congress On Bill
The discussion on the Bill was deferred to Tuesday after Leader of Opposition, Congress' Partap Singh Bajwa, said members need time to prepare to share their views on the Bill. 'How can we debate on such a delicate issue without going through the draft?" he asked.
However, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann trained his guns on Bajwa. 'I introduced the Bill. It should be considered immediately. Bajwa-ji is saying he has no information about the Bill. It is sad that if he does not have information about the desecration of Guru Sahib, then where has he been? Ask a five-year-old child what happened in Bargari? What happened in Behbal Kalan? What happened in Kotkapura?
'He says that he will come tomorrow [Tuesday] after preparing. We said okay. Surprisingly, the Congress has to prepare even in the case of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. They cannot talk without doing homework. No problem, come tomorrow after preparing. We will discuss tomorrow," he said.
Responding to the criticism, Bajwa said: 'The Punjab chief minister had promised that if his party comes to power, it will do justice in sacrilege cases within 24 hours. But even today, after three-and-a-half years of this government, they do not even have a rough draft ready for this. You will be surprised that a similar Bill was brought by the Congress government in 2018. I would like to tell the House that the Bill was passed unanimously."
About the Author
Apoorva Misra
Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S...Read More
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