Akal Takht panel seeks compliance report from Punjab govt before further talks on anti-sacrilege Act
Panel points out that Punjab govt's July 29 response fails to address the fundamental objections raised by Akal Takht Sahib, particularly those concerning provisions of the proposed law that entail interference in Sikh religious matters
The experts’ panel constituted by Akal Takht to deliberate with the Punjab government on issues concerning the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, has asked the government to first submit a compliance report on Akal Takht’s June 29 directive before any further deliberations on the proposed legislation take place.
The panel comprising Justice (Retd.) Rupinder Singh Sodhi, Justice (Retd.) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, Senior Advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Sikh scholars Dr Kehar Singh and Prof. Jagmohan Singh, held its first meeting on Thursday.
Lakhvir Singh, Additional Secretary, SGPC Sub-Office, Chandigarh, coordinated the meeting.
The panel pointed out that, as categorically stated by Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, the government’s July 29 response fails to address the fundamental objections raised by Akal Takht Sahib, particularly those concerning provisions of the proposed law that entail interference in Sikh religious matters.
The response of the Punjab government, received on the last day of the one-month period granted by Akal Takht, is clearly an obfuscation of facts and an attempt to sideline the issue.
The concerns of the Khalsa Panth were clearly communicated to the Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly and members of the Punjab Cabinet on July 31.
The meeting observed that the government’s conduct so far has not been constructive towards finding a resolution to the grave and sensitive issue of sacrilege. Despite the substantial time granted by Akal Takht Sahib, the Punjab government has not yet constituted its panel to deliberate on the entire issue.
