Chandigarh— The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved key amendments to the law against sacrilege, introducing stricter punishment provisions ahead of the special Assembly session scheduled for April 13.
Sharing details, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the revised law предусматривает stringent penalties, including imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life for those found guilty of sacrilege. He asserted that the move is aimed at deterring such incidents and ensuring that offenders are dealt with firmly under the law.
The minister added that investigations in such cases will now be conducted only by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or above, ensuring greater accountability and seriousness in handling sensitive cases.
In other key decisions, the Cabinet also approved hosting the Asia Hockey Cup 2026 in Punjab. Matches are expected to be held in Jalandhar and Mohali, with dates to be announced soon. The tournament will be broadcast live.
Additionally, the government has cleared a major infrastructure initiative to install around three lakh street lights across more than 11,500 villages in the state. In a move aimed at easing the financial burden on local bodies, the cost-sharing formula has been revised, with the state government bearing 70 per cent of the expenditure and panchayats contributing the remaining 30 per cent.
The decisions reflect the state government’s focus on law enforcement, sports promotion, and rural infrastructure development.
