Sikh scholars warn against possible misuse of anti-sacrilege law

Amritsar: Punjab's newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has triggered sharp debate within the Sikh community, with scholars, lawyers, and Panthic leaders warning that the legislation meant to curb sacrilege could also criminalise granthis, sevadars, gurdwara committees, and even families for inadvertent negligence involving sacred saroops. Critics fear misuse of the law, growing state interference in Panthic matters, and rising anxiety among ordinary Sikhs over legal liability and religious honour.Expressing concern that the law could be misused to settle personal vendettas, Ranjit Singh, leader of a prominent panthic organization and former student of the Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal, said the sacred saroops of Guru Granth Sahib, pothis, and gutka sahibs could be deliberately targeted, with blame subsequently placed on Sikhs in whose homes, gurdwaras, or institutions they are installed. He warned that the legislation may create fear among ordinary Sikhs which could prompt many to move the sacred scriptures from their homes to gurdwaras.Another Sikh intellectual, P Ajnala, said for a Sikh, even an allegation of disrespect towards Guru Sahib is "worse than a slow death," as it can irreparably damage a person's social standing and honour. Drawing parallels with the alleged misuse of other laws, he warned that innocent persons could similarly face prolonged legal battles and spend years trying to prove their innocence under the new legislation.Sikh's supreme temporal seat, Akal Takht has also expressed reservations about the Act. Notably, during a recent meeting, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj maintained that the Punjab govt's move to amend the Act ignored both established religious institutional authority and collective Sikh sentiment. He questioned why the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) were not taken into confidence before the legislation was introduced. Despite prior indications and concerns raised by the Akal Takht, the government bypassed established Panthic frameworks and failed to engage in meaningful dialogue, he added.Ranjit said, "No one is opposing strict punishment for those found guilty of sacrilege. In fact, Sikh leaders, SGPC functionaries, Panthic organisations, and religious bodies have long demanded a stringent law to curb such incidents. However, controversy has arisen over the manner in which Guru Granth Sahib has been brought under a legal framework, as well as the extension of the law's provisions to granthis, sevadars, and ordinary Sikhs."Stating that all authority concerning Guru Granth Sahib rests solely with Akal Takht and the Khalsa Panth, he said, "The 2008 legislation, which granted the SGPC exclusive rights over the printing of sacred saroops through a state-enacted law, effectively shifted the matter from Panthic authority to state control. Such decisions should emerge through collective Panthic consensus and hukamnamas issued by Akal Takht rather than through govt intervention."