On the finish of about two hours of deliberations, Akal Takht Jathedar Jani Kuldip Singh Gargazi mentioned all of the members current within the assembly “admitted” that errors had been made in passing the invoice and accepted the instructions of the Akal Takht.
Addressing the media after the assembly, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and state Meeting Speaker Kurtar Singh Sandwan stopped in need of committing to implementing the modifications. They mentioned the modifications conveyed by the Akal Takht can be thought of by the federal government after which a closing choice can be taken.
On April 13, the Punjab Meeting, throughout a particular session convened by Baisakhi, handed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Modification) Invoice, which supplies for extreme punishment for blasphemy in opposition to Guru Granth Sahib, which is taken into account the dwelling Guru of Sikhs. Per week later, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria gave his assent to the anti-sacred invoice.
The ruling AAP hailed the Invoice’s passage as a “recreation changer” forward of parliamentary elections scheduled for early subsequent 12 months.
Monday’s case marked an uncommon assertion of the Akal Takht’s authority over legal guidelines associated to Sikh non secular issues.
By no means earlier than has the Akal Takht summoned virtually your complete Sikh political management of Punjab, together with ministers, Congress presidents, ruling occasion MLAs, opposition members and independents, over a invoice enacted unanimously by the Punjab Meeting.
CM Mann was not known as to the assembly as he had been declared an “anti-guru” and “anti-Khalsa Panth” in reference to the controversy over the alleged blasphemy video.
In keeping with the listing launched by the Akal Takht Secretariat, 69 AAP MLAs and ministers attended the listening to. Fifteen Congress members, two Shiromani Akali Dal MLAs and unbiased MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh had been additionally current. 4 non-Sikh ministers submitted written explanations, and two non-Sikh MPs attended voluntarily.
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“The federal government has usurped the authority of Akal Takht.”
On the outset of the proceedings, Mr. Jathedar Gargazi defined why he believed that the Akal Takht had an obligation to intervene regardless of the problems surrounding the invoice handed by the elected parliament.
Citing the Miri Piri precept of Sikhism, he mentioned Akal Takht represents the fabric and non secular authority of Sikh Panth and can’t stay silent when politics intrudes on points associated to Guru Granth Sahib.
He advised MPs that no authorities might legislate on points associated to the Sikh non secular custom with out consulting the Sikhs’ consultant our bodies.
He additionally reminded the congregation that each one current shared the identical Guru and urged members to keep up decorum, communicate truthfully and respect the sanctity of Akal Takht.
MLAs questioned over provisions of the Act
After that, the general public hearings grew to become extra like a clause-by-clause examination of the revised invoice.
On the outset, Jathedar performed two video clips of the state chief minister speaking about enacting strict legal guidelines in opposition to blasphemy.
In one of many movies, Mann will be heard saying that folks accused of blasphemy are sometimes mentioned to have psychological problems and wonders why such individuals all the time goal gurdwaras. He additionally mentioned that underneath the proposed invoice, even the mother and father of such individuals can be held accountable.
After taking part in the clip, Jathedar requested the lawmakers whether or not the supply was lastly included within the legislation. A number of MLAs mentioned they had been not sure. Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manpreet Singh Ayari additionally mentioned he was undecided.
The query then turned to one of many principal objections to the Akal Takht, particularly the usage of the phrase ‘custodian’ within the Act. Jathedar requested the MPs what this expression meant. Some individuals mentioned they did not know. Jathedar then mentioned that this in itself displays a lack of awareness surrounding the supply.
The Akal Takht has constantly maintained that no particular person will be mentioned to be the “guardian” of a Guru as a result of, in response to Sikh beliefs, the Guru is the protector of Sikhs and a Sikh is simply a sevadar.
“Have you ever learn the legislation?”
Jathedar requested MPs whether or not they had truly learn the invoice earlier than supporting it.
Akali MLA Jagroop Singh replied that this was not the case.
AAP MLA Kulwant Singh additionally mentioned he had not learn the invoice because it was circulated on the final minute.
Opposition chief Partap Singh Bajwa mentioned the invoice was solely supplied to MPs shortly earlier than it was debated within the Home of Commons and there was little alternative to learn the small print. He learn out his speech within the Vidhan Sabha, highlighting that he had recommended that the SGPC seek the advice of Sikh students earlier than passing the invoice. “However my objections had been ignored,” Bajwa mentioned.
Congress MLA Palghat Singh echoed this level and mentioned there was not sufficient time to contemplate the invoice. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira mentioned that the members obtained the digital gadgets invoice on the desk of the Home throughout the session of the Home.
At one stage, as Mr Khaira was making his submissions, a number of MPs concurrently interrupted him. The trade grew louder to the purpose the place Jathedar intervened sharply.
Reminding members that they had been inside the Akal Takht, he requested everybody to keep up self-discipline, after which proceedings resumed and requested Mr Kaira to not politicize the problem.
Jathedar additionally questioned Akali MLA Ghaneeb Kaur Majithia why he was not current within the meeting on the day the invoice was handed. Ganiev Kaur responded that as a lady lawmaker, she discovered the environment in parliament humiliating.
He added that because the invoice has not been accepted by the Akal Takht, there isn’t a motive to hitch the lawsuit.
The 2017 Maul explosion and the 2015 blasphemy investigation
Dialogue then turned to the pending blasphemy investigation.
Jathedar referred to the Maul explosion during which seven individuals, together with youngsters, misplaced their lives and requested why justice was not served.
Opposition members claimed {that a} case looking for sanctions in opposition to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in reference to the incident had been pending with the CM for almost two-and-a-half years.
The Jathedar additionally sought a proof for not prosecuting Dera Sheikh within the 2015 blasphemy case.
Opposition members claimed that some circumstances had been subsequently transferred exterior Punjab as a result of the federal government didn’t adequately defend them.
AAP MLA Gurpreet Singh responded that cost sheets have already been filed the place investigations have been accomplished and summoning of further accused is a matter for the court docket.
“The realm of Akal Takht”
Though the Akal Takht totally helps strict punishment for blasphemy, it reiterated that some provisions of the amended legislation aren’t the jurisdiction of the federal government however of the Akal Takht and the Sikh Panth.
Jathedar mentioned it was not acceptable to exchange the phrase ‘bil’ referring to Guru Granth Sahib with ‘saroop’. “The phrase Bhil is a really outdated phrase and has been used to confer with Guru Granth Sahib for hundreds of years. It isn’t applicable to exchange this phrase with Saroop. The phrase Saroop can be utilized with Bhil however can’t be changed,” he mentioned, including that modifications in the usage of Sikh phrases can solely be performed by the Akal Takht or Panth and never by the federal government.
Jathedar additionally mentioned that the provisions of the amended Act made it binding on the SGPC to keep up a central register of all those that have been granted Guru Granth Sahib and make the listing public by posting it on the SGPC’s web site. “The SGPC already maintains such a register, however this listing can’t be positioned within the public area as a result of everybody would know who owns the Guru Granth Sahib, which might have additional destructive penalties.”
He additionally opposed a legislation that gives for digital marking of each Guru Granth Sahib with a novel identification quantity.
The jathedar additionally objected to a clause that gives for punishment of as much as 5 years for many who don’t have interaction in blasphemy however violate different situations of the act. “Who is that this provision for? This provision is for many who work within the Gurudwara and are engaged within the care and seva of the Guru Granth Sahib.”
He mentioned the legislation must be “on maintain” till these modifications are made.
On Monday, the Jathedar additionally proposed a further modification stating that if devotees of an anti-Sikh temple commit blasphemy underneath the affect or course of their leaders, felony legal responsibility ought to lengthen not solely to the accused personally but in addition to the pinnacle of the temple involved.
Akal Takht vs Punjab Authorities
The present battle between the Punjab authorities and the Akal Takht stems from the state’s makes an attempt to legislate in opposition to blasphemy over the previous 12 months.
The method started in July 2025, when the AAP authorities launched the Punjab Prevention of Crimes Towards Holy Scriptures Invoice, 2025, which sought to stiffen penalties for blasphemy involving holy books of all religions. The invoice has been referred to a 15-member advert hoc committee of the Punjab Meeting, chaired by former minister and AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar, for intensive consultations with non secular our bodies, authorized specialists and different stakeholders. Nonetheless, the committee didn’t submit its report till the federal government determined to take a distinct legislative route.
In March this 12 months, after a gathering with the Sangh Samaj and numerous Sikh non secular organizations, CM Mann introduced that the federal government would amend the prevailing Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008 by convening a particular session of the Punjab Meeting on April 13, coinciding with Baisakhi.
The SGPC opposed the proposal introduced by the CM in its annual funds assembly on March 28. On April 6, the SGPC convened a gathering of representatives of Sikh communities and resolved that stricter legal guidelines in opposition to blasphemy must be enacted, however must be based mostly on “pan-religious consensus.”
SGPC additionally shared a number of letters with the media addressed to the federal government clarifying the contents of the invoice. it mentionedthe federal government didn’t reply.
The Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Modification) Invoice, 2026 was handed on April 13 and the Governor gave his assent on April 17. Whereas the unique 2008 legislation was primarily a regulatory legislation proscribing the printing, publication and distribution of the Guru Granth Sahib to accredited establishments such because the SGPC, the 2026 modification turned the legislation right into a felony legislation with penalties starting from seven years to life in jail and a superb of two.5 million rupees for blasphemy.
The Akal Takht opposed a number of provisions that it mentioned hindered Sikh non secular practices and had been enacted with out consulting the Akal Takht or the SGPC.
On Could 8, Akal Takht summoned the Punjab Meeting Speaker and requested him to clarify why the invoice was enacted with out consulting the central Sikh physique. After listening to the views of the Speaker, the Akal Takht formally conveyed an in depth listing of objections to the Speaker on Could 11 and directed him to amend the legislation inside 15 days.
As not one of the objections had been taken up, the five-member Singh Sahiban met on June 15 and determined to provide all Sikh ministers besides Mann and all Sikh MLAs of assorted political events earlier than the Akal Takht.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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