Last Updated: 29 September 2026

Toughest law against sacrilege (Beadbi): Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 passed in special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on 13 April 2026 (Vaisakhi)^[1][2]
-- Life imprisonment i.e. jail till death, no routine remissions^[2:1]
-- Fine up to ₹25 lakh^[1:1]

Earlier: Culprits often escaped by being declared mentally ill; masterminds rarely punished^[2:2]

¶ Key provisions^[2:3]

• Custodian also liable if a mentally ill person under their care commits sacrilege
• Conspirators/masterminds face the same punishment as those who commit the act
• No release on Independence Day/Republic Day remissions

¶ Strict investigation (SOP, April 2026)^[3]

• Punjab Bureau of Investigation issued SOP for sacrilege cases: immediate FIR, crime scene secured, forensic-based probe
• Covers Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Gutka Sahib & other Gurbani, and also Bible, Quran & Bhagavad Gita

References:

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1. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=219718 (Punjab Govt Press Release, 13 Apr 2026) ↩︎ ↩︎

2. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=219712 (13 Apr 2026) ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

3. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=220045 (20 Apr 2026) ↩︎