AMRITSAR — In a major development concerning the religious and legislative affairs of Punjab, the Sri Akal Takht on Monday directed the state government to immediately place the recently enacted Jagat Jyoti Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 on hold. The highest temporal seat of the Sikhs issued this directive following mounting concerns and strong objections raised by various Sikh religious bodies over certain provisions of the newly passed anti-sacrilege law.
The directive was issued after a delegation of Sikh legislators and cabinet ministers from the ruling government appeared before the Akal Takht to engage in deliberations regarding the legal and religious implications of the legislation. The Jathedar instructed the state administration to keep the implementation of the act in abeyance, emphasizing that the sanctity and traditions of the community must be fully preserved. The government has been given a strict timeframe of one month to coordinate with religious scholars and representatives to carry out the necessary modifications.
The Akal Takht maintained that any legislative action addressing the desecration of holy scriptures must first resolve internal community objections through comprehensive dialogue. Originally introduced to act as a formidable deterrent with stringent punishments, including life imprisonment, the bill has faced criticism for creating potential administrative ambiguities. The religious body reiterated that the revised framework should only move forward once a consensus is reached, ensuring the final legal draft respects the sentiments and traditions of the global Sikh community within the stipulated one-month period.
