Anti-sacrilege bill: Punjab assembly select committee holds 1st meeting
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Chandigarh: The 15-member select committee of Punjab vidhan sabha, tasked with holding wider consultations with stakeholders on the anti-sacrilege bill, held its first meeting under the chairmanship of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar.
Speaking to media, Nijjar, who was accompanied by speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, said the committee discussed its work area and the bill. He said a mechanism would be put in place to seek inputs from the public. While methods for submitting suggestions, such as WhatsApp and email, are being considered, these details will be finalised in the next meeting. Religious organisations and thinkers will also be consulted, he said.
"The discussions held in the meeting are confidential as it is a sensitive issue," Nijjar stated. "We will meet again on July 29."
Nijjar added the committee would try to submit its report within the stipulated period of six months. "We will try to meet at least once a week. However, the frequency can be increased, and we may form a sub-committee... Two members, Bram Shankar Jimpa and Amandeep Kaur, could not attend the meeting, but they are on their way, and we will brief them.
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The panel may also give an option to invite suggestions through local MLAs," Nijjar said.
The Punjab advocate general, who is an ex-officio member of the committee, also attended the meeting. The panel includes MLAs from AAP, Congress, BJP, and SAD.
The speaker had formed the committee on July 19 to seek public opinion and consult religious orgsanisations on the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025.
Before this, the sacrilege bill was introduced in the assembly on July 14, proposing stricter penalties, including life imprisonment, for religious sacrilege.
The MLAs nominated to the select committee include 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.
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. Those attempting to commit an offence will be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and up to five years, and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh. Also, any person who abets an offence, and the offence is committed as a consequence of that abetment, will receive the same punishment as prescribed for the main offence.
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