Punjab: Anti-sacrilege Bill likely to be tabled next week

The much-awaited draft Bill to ensure harsher punishment in sacrilege cases wasn't tabled in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday.

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The Bill will now be tabled either on Monday or Tuesday, depending on how fast the government can get it ready.

A day ago, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced that the draft Bill would be presented in the House on Friday.

According to sources in the Chief Minister's Office, their focus today was on the resolution regarding the withdrawal of the consent for the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force at BBMB installations.

“We don't want any lacunae in the draft Bill. That is why it is taking time,” said a senior functionary in the Punjab Government.

Once the draft is ready, it will be first approved by the Punjab Council of Ministers.

However, this Bill will not be enacted immediately.

With Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announcing earlier that he wanted to include capital punishment for offences of sacrilege of any religion. It is learnt that the draft Bill on sacrilege is being given final shape and may include punishment of imprisonment for 10 years.