Breaking: Sri Akal Takht Sahib rejects Punjab Govt’s reply on Sacrilege Law, seeks consensus before further amendments
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), July 31, 2026: The Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib has written an urgent letter to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, expressing dissatisfaction with the Punjab Government’s response regarding The Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 and directing that no further discussion or amendment to the legislation should take place without reaching a consensus with Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
The letter was issued on the directions of Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj and was also sent to Sikh Cabinet Ministers of the Punjab Government who had appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib on June 29, 2026.
The Secretariat said the Punjab Government had submitted its response through the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, on July 29. However, the reply was found to be unsatisfactory and was therefore not accepted.
According to the letter, the government’s response indicated that it was not prepared to make further changes to the law in accordance with the objections and concerns raised by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The Secretariat also expressed concern that the Punjab Government had not established a channel of communication with Sri Akal Takht Sahib during the one-month period granted for consultations.
The letter stated that the government had accepted only one of the objections raised by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, while defending its position on the remaining concerns by referring to rules proposed under the legislation.
To facilitate further discussions, Sri Akal Takht Sahib has constituted a committee of legal experts and Sikh scholars to engage with the Punjab Government and work towards a consensus on the law.
The committee includes Justice (Retd) Rupinder Singh Sodhi, Justice (Retd) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Sikh scholar Dr Kehar Singh Patiala and Prof Jagmohan Singh of Ludhiana. Lakhvir Singh, Additional Secretary at the SGPC’s Chandigarh sub-office, has been appointed as the committee’s coordinator.
The Punjab Government has been asked to initiate discussions with the committee and work towards an agreement within two months. The letter stated that the door for dialogue remained open but urged the government to proceed with a clear intention and avoid any approach that could undermine the consultation process.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib said its concerns were not related to any political party or government but were focused on the possible long-term implications of the legislation.
Referring to laws such as the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the letter cautioned that laws could be misused in the future and said the concerns surrounding the sacrilege legislation should be examined beyond present-day political considerations.
The Secretariat also raised concerns over the possible misuse of the law by investigating agencies, alleging that agencies had previously failed to bring the actual perpetrators of sacrilege incidents to justice.
It said the legislation should be examined with political neutrality to ensure that its provisions could not be misused against Sikhs in the future under the pretext of sacrilege cases.
The letter noted that the Punjab Government may introduce further amendments to the Act during the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session scheduled to begin on August 3, 2026.
The Speaker was urged to ensure that no discussion or further amendment concerning the law takes place in the Assembly until a consensus is reached with Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the SGPC.
The Secretariat also called upon Sikh legislators to recognise their religious responsibility and support amendments that reflect the concerns and sentiments conveyed by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The Punjab Government had passed The Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 in April without seeking the views or consent of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the SGPC and other Sikh institutions, following which the matter was taken up by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
On June 29, the Speaker, Sikh MLAs and Cabinet Ministers appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, where the objections and concerns related to the law were discussed. The government representatives had expressed their agreement with the issues raised during the meeting.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib had subsequently directed the Punjab Government to hold consultations with Sikh institutions and make necessary amendments to the legislation within a month.