Pb speaker forms panel on anti-sacrilege bill, Nijjar to head it
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Chandigarh: Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan Saturday formed a select committee to hold consultations with various stakeholders on the "Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025".
It follows a unanimous resolution passed during the assembly session on July 15. The select committee is mandated to submit its report within six months.
The 15-member panel will be led by former cabinet minister and AAP (Amritsar South) MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar. The state's advocate general will be an ex-officio member. The panel includes MLAs from the ruling AAP, as well as opposition parties such as Congress, BJP, and SAD.
Among the MLAs nominated to the select committee are Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Ajay Gupta, Amandeep Kaur Arora, Inderjit Kaur Mann, Jagdeep Kamboj, Jangi Lal Mahajan, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Neena Mittal, Baljinder Kaur, Budh Ram, Bram Shanker Jimpa, Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Madan Lal Bagga, Manpreet Singh Ayali, and Mohammad Jamil Ur Rehman.
On July 16, the Punjab assembly referred the anti-sacrilege bill, which proposes life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh for acts of sacrilege against religious scriptures, to a select committee of legislators for consultation with stakeholders and the general public.
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It was also decided that the panel will submit its report within six months.
Under the Bill, a person found guilty of sacrilege could face imprisonment of not less than 10 years, extending to a maximum of life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh, which can go up to Rs 10 lakh. Anyone who abets such a crime will receive the same punishment.
The proposed legislation aims to safeguard religious and communal harmony and deter sacrilege incidents by imposing severe punishment. It defines "holy scriptures" as sacred texts revered by various religious denominations, specifically listing Sri Guru Granth Sahib (including extracts like Pothis and Gutka Sahib), Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Quran Sharif, and the Holy Bible.
The notification regarding the select committee was issued by the assembly secretariat, and copies have been circulated to all members of the house.
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