Punjab Panel Seeks Meeting With Akal Takht Committee on Sacrilege Lawਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨੇ ਬੇਅਦਬੀ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ 'ਤੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਦੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨਾਲ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਮੰਗੀ

The Punjab government's seven-member coordination committee on the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 has written to the Akal Takht secretariat asking for a meeting with the panel formed by the Sikh temporal seat, The Times of India reported on October 31. The Akal Takht has not yet fixed a date.

What does the letter ask for?

The letter, dated October 23, reached the Akal Takht secretariat on Thursday. Nodal officer Harjeet Singh Sandhu, a PCS officer and joint principal secretary to the chief minister, asked the secretariat to fix a date, time and venue. Secretariat in-charge Bagicha Singh told the paper the letter had been brought to the notice of Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, who is visiting abroad.

Why is the law in dispute?

The Akal Takht says it has no objection to stringent punishment for sacrilege, but argues that the government and legislature cannot decide Sikh religious terminology, maryada or the status and custodianship of Guru Granth Sahib. Its objections include replacing "Bir" with "Saroop", the definition of "custodian" and a proposed central register of saroops. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said provisions can be discussed but the core aim of strict punishment will not be diluted.

Who sits on the two committees?

The government panel includes former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa, Baba Sewa Singh of Rampur Khera, retired High Court judges Jaspal Singh and Gurbir Singh, former IPS officer Jatinder Singh Aulakh and law officer Preet Inder Paul Singh. The Akal Takht panel has retired Justice Rupinder Singh Sodhi, retired Justice Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Dr Kehar Singh and Professor Jagmohan Singh.

What happened earlier?

Mann met the government panel on September 27, and it held its first formal meeting at Punjab Bhawan on October 6. On October 1 the Jathedar had asked the government to keep the Act in abeyance until consensus is reached, after the Akal Takht's two-month deadline lapsed.

When will the two panels meet?

No date has been set. The government committee has asked the Akal Takht secretariat to name one.

Who wrote the letter?

Harjeet Singh Sandhu, nodal officer of the coordination committee, wrote it on behalf of the government panel.

Is the Act in force?

Reports say the Akal Takht has demanded it be kept in abeyance; the government has said only that the Act's provisions can be discussed.