Akal Takht gives Punjab govt 1 month to amend anti-sacrilege law
The Akal Takht directed the Punjab government to hold the new anti-sacrilege law after hearing Sikh MLAs and ministers. It gave the state one month to remove objections and amend provisions it said crossed into Sikh religious jurisdiction.
The Akal Takht on Monday directed the Punjab government to put the recently enacted anti-sacrilege law on hold and amend its contentious provisions within a month, after raising serious objections to the legislation during a hearing attended by Sikh legislators from both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition.
Addressing the MLAs and ministers at Akal Takht Sahib, Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj issued an Adesh (directive), asking the Punjab government to convene a special session of the Vidhan Sabha, if necessary, to rectify the objections raised by the Sikh temporal body.
"Clear all the objections raised by Akal Takht Sahib within one month. Call a Vidhan Sabha session or do whatever is necessary. This is the Adesh of Akal Takht Sahib. Till then, put the anti-sacrilege law on hold," the Jathedar said.
During the proceedings, legislators from both the treasury and Opposition benches admitted that they had either not been able to fully read or properly understand the Bill before it was passed, claiming the draft had been circulated only at the last moment.
Congress MLAs told the Jathedar they had urged the Punjab government during the Assembly session to consult the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sikh organisations and Sikh scholars before legislating on such a sensitive religious issue.
THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS RAISED
The Jathedar questioned why the Punjab government had attempted to define religious terminology through legislation. He objected to replacing the term "Bir" with "Saroop" in the law and raised concerns over provisions relating to the SGPC's role in the printing and publication of Guru Granth Sahib Birs.
He also criticised provisions concerning custodians of the Guru Granth Sahib, saying they created fear and uncertainty among those entrusted with preserving the holy scripture.
Responding to the concerns, AAP MLA Manjit Singh said the provision was intended to address cases involving parents of persons accused in sacrilege incidents and later clarified that it referred to "mentally challenged" individuals. The explanation drew a sarcastic "Shabaash" from the Jathedar after the MLA had earlier claimed to have read the legislation in full.
During the proceedings, AAP MLA Manjit Singh was asked to explain the meaning of the term "custodian" as used in the proposed Anti-Sacrilege Bill.
The legislator responded that in cases where a mentally unstable person commits an act of sacrilege, the parents of the accused would be held responsible and arrested, adding that they were referred to as "custodians" under the proposed law.
However, the Bill defines the term differently. It describes a "custodian" as a person entrusted with the care, custody and management of the Saroops (holy volumes) of the Guru Granth Sahib, outlining their duties and responsibilities regarding the handling and preservation of the scripture.
The explanation prompted a sharp reaction from Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, who took a swipe at the MLA, remarking sarcastically, "Punjab needs such intelligent people."
The Jathedar also sought an update from the Punjab government on the 2015 Bargari sacrilege cases, questioning why the Sirsa Dera chief had not been brought to Punjab for questioning. He further referred to the Maur blast case and expressed concern over the pace of the investigation.
"I feel that you did a job which was not yours. You intervened in our jurisdiction," the Jathedar told the legislators, reiterating that the law must remain on hold until all objections are addressed and necessary amendments are carried out.
The Akal Takht on Monday directed the Punjab government to put the recently enacted anti-sacrilege law on hold and amend its contentious provisions within a month, after raising serious objections to the legislation during a hearing attended by Sikh legislators from both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition.
Addressing the MLAs and ministers at Akal Takht Sahib, Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj issued an Adesh (directive), asking the Punjab government to convene a special session of the Vidhan Sabha, if necessary, to rectify the objections raised by the Sikh temporal body.
"Clear all the objections raised by Akal Takht Sahib within one month. Call a Vidhan Sabha session or do whatever is necessary. This is the Adesh of Akal Takht Sahib. Till then, put the anti-sacrilege law on hold," the Jathedar said.
During the proceedings, legislators from both the treasury and Opposition benches admitted that they had either not been able to fully read or properly understand the Bill before it was passed, claiming the draft had been circulated only at the last moment.
Congress MLAs told the Jathedar they had urged the Punjab government during the Assembly session to consult the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sikh organisations and Sikh scholars before legislating on such a sensitive religious issue.
THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS RAISED
The Jathedar questioned why the Punjab government had attempted to define religious terminology through legislation. He objected to replacing the term "Bir" with "Saroop" in the law and raised concerns over provisions relating to the SGPC's role in the printing and publication of Guru Granth Sahib Birs.
He also criticised provisions concerning custodians of the Guru Granth Sahib, saying they created fear and uncertainty among those entrusted with preserving the holy scripture.
Responding to the concerns, AAP MLA Manjit Singh said the provision was intended to address cases involving parents of persons accused in sacrilege incidents and later clarified that it referred to "mentally challenged" individuals. The explanation drew a sarcastic "Shabaash" from the Jathedar after the MLA had earlier claimed to have read the legislation in full.
During the proceedings, AAP MLA Manjit Singh was asked to explain the meaning of the term "custodian" as used in the proposed Anti-Sacrilege Bill.
The legislator responded that in cases where a mentally unstable person commits an act of sacrilege, the parents of the accused would be held responsible and arrested, adding that they were referred to as "custodians" under the proposed law.
However, the Bill defines the term differently. It describes a "custodian" as a person entrusted with the care, custody and management of the Saroops (holy volumes) of the Guru Granth Sahib, outlining their duties and responsibilities regarding the handling and preservation of the scripture.
The explanation prompted a sharp reaction from Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, who took a swipe at the MLA, remarking sarcastically, "Punjab needs such intelligent people."
The Jathedar also sought an update from the Punjab government on the 2015 Bargari sacrilege cases, questioning why the Sirsa Dera chief had not been brought to Punjab for questioning. He further referred to the Maur blast case and expressed concern over the pace of the investigation.
"I feel that you did a job which was not yours. You intervened in our jurisdiction," the Jathedar told the legislators, reiterating that the law must remain on hold until all objections are addressed and necessary amendments are carried out.
