Punjab’s Proposed Sacrilege Law faces Opposition from Former Civil Servants

Punjab, October 1, 2025: Seventy-nine retired civil servants have opposed a proposed Punjab law aimed at criminalising sacrilege, warning it could lead to repression, religious conflict, and misuse of authority. In a joint letter, they urged the state legislature to withdraw the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Act, 2025.

The bill, introduced on July 14 by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, as reported by The New Indian Express, prescribes life imprisonment and heavy fines for offending religious texts. The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), comprising several former senior bureaucrats, called it a direct threat to democratic principles and secular governance.

Intent and “Strict Liability”: A Major Concern

A major issue is the bill’s disregard for intent. Criminal law normally considers whether an act was deliberate. Accidental damage to a sacred text is not a crime. This draft, however, treats even unintentional acts as criminal, effectively introducing “strict liability,” which the CCG says violates Articles 14 and 21, protecting equality before law and liberty.

Vague Language and Potential Targets

The bill’s language is also vague. “Holy Scriptures” are defined as texts sacred to “respective religious denominations,” which could include anything from the Bhagavad Gita to pamphlets revered by small sects. While it lists Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, it names only one Hindu scripture, ignoring the dozens considered sacred by various Hindu groups.

A student quoting a religious text in class could face criminal charges if someone claims offence. The law allows anyone alleging insult to initiate legal action, enabling political or opportunistic harassment of critics, academics, or artists.

Lessons from History: Risks of Misuse

A 2010 Freedom House report noted that sacrilege laws often encourage intolerance and misuse. In countries with such laws, powerful groups exploit them to silence minorities and dissenters. The CCG warns Punjab risks the same outcome.

Religious divisions in Punjab often intersect with caste. Dalit-majority sects, like Ravidassia and Valmiki, are frequently branded heretical by orthodox Sikh groups. For example, some Sikh organisations reject the Ravidassia sect’s Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji as their holy book instead of the Guru Granth Sahib. Past tensions have caused violence and boycotts.

Laws allowing criminal cases over perceived insults could target these Dalit groups, intensify sectarian conflict, and deepen social divides. Powerful groups could exploit the law to settle scores.

NCRB data shows cases under Section 153A, penalising promotion of enmity between groups, rose from 336 in 2014 to 1,886 in 2020, with 1,104 in 2021. Convictions remain low: 20.2% in 2020, with 64.3% pending. This gap means many face arrests, investigations, and social stigma despite eventual acquittal.

Legal Consequences and Police Powers

Existing laws already address intentional insults. Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (replacing IPC 295A) penalises acts intended to outrage religious feelings, applying only to serious, deliberate acts with a maximum four-year sentence. The draft bill, by contrast, prescribes life imprisonment.

Offences under the proposed bill are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. Police can arrest without a warrant and investigate immediately. Bail is not automatic, and offences cannot be privately settled, giving authorities broad powers and increasing risks of misuse, prolonged detention, and harassment.

The draft mirrors past attempts in 2015 and 2018 to expand blasphemy provisions. The CCG opposed those and warned such laws undermine freedoms and target dissenting voices. This version retains old dangers and adds new ones.

“Reducing the rule of law to an instrument of repression” is how the group described the likely impact. They fear it will fuel religious extremism, limit debate, and give excessive power to those exploiting religion for political gain.

Why Experts Call for Complete Withdrawal

Past political moves appealing to religious sentiments weakened India’s secular framework and increased attacks on minorities.

In closing, the group urged Punjab lawmakers to reject the bill entirely. “The proposed legislation is bad in law,” they wrote, warning of long-term harm to India’s constitutional framework. They asked the Select Committee reviewing the bill to recommend its complete withdrawal.

Punjab’s Proposed Sacrilege Law faces Opposition from Former Civil Servants

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