Punjab's anti-sacrilege law panel seeks academics' views
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Chandigarh: A Punjab Vidhan Sabha committee is consulting academics and legal experts on a proposed law to curb sacrilege, as the state moves ahead with the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025.
The select committee, chaired by Aam Aadmi Party legislator Inderbir Singh Nijjar, met on Tuesday with members of the faculty from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Among those offering feedback were Amarjit Singh, head of Sikh Studies, Syed Raihan Hasan Rizvi from Urdu Persian, and professors from law, Hindi, architecture, and political science.
The committee has also sought input from the Bar Association president and chairman of the bar council of the Punjab and Haryana high court, who are expected at its next meeting on Aug 26.
Retired high court judges have been invited to submit written suggestions.
Earlier this month, on Aug 12, the panel held consultations with experts from Punjabi University, Patiala, including specialists in Sikhism and religious studies. The Bill was cleared by the Punjab cabinet on July 14 and introduced in the Vidhan Sabha the same day. On July 15, legislators referred it to the select committee unanimously for wider consultation with stakeholders, including the public, before final passage.
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