Punjab Cabinet Clears Anti-Sacrilege Bill With Life-Term Penalty

Punjab’s Cabinet has cleared the Anti-Sacrilege Bill 2025, sending it to the Legislative Assembly for passage during an extended special session that has already been marred by turmoil and opposition walkouts. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government says the measure is intended to deter desecration of all holy scriptures following a series of more than 300 reported incidents in recent years. The draft law mandates a minimum jail term of 10 years and allows for life imprisonment, along with fines ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. It also holds guardians liable if minors or mentally challenged persons commit sacrilege and penalises anyone who instigates or conspires in such acts. While the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal signalled support, Congress legislators criticised the government for granting little time to study the proposal. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the administration was “unprepared” and accused the Speaker of stifling debate, a complaint that earlier prompted Congress MLAs to leave the House when law-and-order issues were ruled out of order in Zero Hour. A debate and vote on the bill—postponed on 14 July—are expected later this week. If enacted, the legislation would introduce some of India’s toughest penalties for religious desecration and could become a model for other states grappling with similar offences.