Chandigarh: The legal battle over the Punjab government’s recently enacted Jagat Jot Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, has intensified as the Anglican Church of India (CIPBC) filed a fresh petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The petitioners have described the legislation as discriminatory and unconstitutional, arguing that it selectively protects one religious text while excluding the holy books of other faiths. This latest challenge follows a similar Public Interest Litigation previously filed by Simranjit Singh, a resident of Jalandhar, bringing the total number of active legal challenges against the state’s anti-sacrilege law to two.
In its plea, the Church contends that the amendment violates the fundamental principle of secularism and the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. By providing specific legal safeguards only to the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the petition argues that the state has created a religious hierarchy that ignores the sanctity of other scriptures. Furthermore, the Church has raised serious objections to Section 5(3) of the Act, which prescribes life imprisonment for conspiracies intended to breach the peace through sacrilege. Legal counsel for the petitioners argued that such a severe penalty for a non-violent offence is arbitrary and disproportionate, effectively equating it with the punishment for murder.
The petition also highlights potential threats to civil liberties, specifically concerning the freedom of expression protected under Article 19. Critics suggest that the Act’s broad definition of sacrilege—which encompasses spoken words, written text, physical gestures, and electronic communication—is dangerously vague and could be misused to suppress legitimate discourse. Additionally, the Church has expressed concern over what it terms excessive state overreach into religious management. Provisions requiring the mandatory maintenance of digital registries and state-monitored records for holy texts are seen as an unwarranted intrusion into the internal administrative affairs of religious institutions.
During the initial proceedings, the High Court bench stated it would first verify the credentials and standing of the petitioner before delving into the constitutional merits of the case. This move underscores the sensitive nature of the legislation, which the state government maintains is vital for preserving communal harmony and preventing social unrest in Punjab. As legal experts and religious leaders watch the proceedings closely, the court has adjourned the matter and scheduled the next comprehensive hearing for May 8, 2026. The upcoming session is expected to determine whether the court will grant an interim stay on the implementation of the controversial law.
