All posts tagged: sacrilege

In Punjab, conviction rate in sacrilege cases has been 9% with 43 conviction since 2015

In Punjab, conviction rate in sacrilege cases has been 9% with 43 conviction since 2015

Published by Parlour News

Since 2015, Punjab’s courts tried 438 cases involving sacrilege, with only five resulting in the maximum three-year term for the crime, according to police data — with the 1.14% success rate being proffered by the state as rationale for the controversial new sacrilege law that came into effect April 20. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met with the senior members of Baba Budha Ji International Gurmat Granthi Sabha, a national-level body of Granthi Singhs, after a felicitation ceremony for the Punjab Anti-Sacrilege Law, on Monday. (@BhagwantMann) The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state is locked in a tense standoff with the Sikh clergy over the new sacrilege law. The data also shows that there were convictions in only 43 cases, a 9% conviction rate. This data has become the primary justification for the government’s controversial new legislation. Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. But, the new law has run afoul of the Sikh clergy and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh religious body. On …

Why has Punjab introduced a new law on sacrilege?

Why has Punjab introduced a new law on sacrilege?

Published by Parlour News

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann speaks during the Punjab Legislative Assembly’s budget session, in Chandigarh | Photo Credit: ANI The story so far: On April 13, the Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the ‘Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026’, aimed at harsher punishment for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, including life imprisonment. It proposes to amend the 2008 law enacted under the Shiromani Akali Dal–Bharatiya Janata Party government. A series of so-called sacrilege incidents in recent years prompted successive governments to pursue legislation. In 2016, the SAD-BJP government passed two amendment bills — The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, and The Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016 — prescribing life imprisonment for desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, but the Centre returned them, asserting that all religions must be treated equally under India’s secular framework. In 2018, the Congress government again introduced two amendment bills, but they did not receive Presidential assent. Last year, the Aam Aadmi Party government tabled the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy …

Punjab Government nod to amended sacrilege law with stricter punishments

Punjab Government nod to amended sacrilege law with stricter punishments

Published by Parlour News

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during the Cabinet meeting on April 11, 2026. Photo: X/@BhagwantMann. The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday (April 11, 2026) approved stringent amendments to the law on sacrilege to make punishments more severe, including life imprisonment. The Cabinet in a meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, cleared the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes enhanced penalties, including life imprisonment, to deter incidents of ‘beadbi’ (sacrilege) and uphold the sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib. Published – April 12, 2026 08:31 am IST Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Sukhbir Singh Badal in a wheelchair serves punishment in sacrilege case – India TV

Sukhbir Singh Badal in a wheelchair serves punishment in sacrilege case – India TV

Published by Webster

Image Source : PTI Punjab former CM Sukhbir Singh Badal Former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was seen at the entrance of Amritsar’s Golden Temple sporting a plaque around his neck sitting in a wheelchair on Tuesday with a spear in his hand as he serves one of the religious punishments over a sacrilege case.  The punishment awarded to him by Akal Takht Sahib directs him to perform as a ‘sewadar’, clean utensils, shoes and even toilets at the Golden Temple. The SAD chief’s punishment comes after the Akal Takht found him culpable of supporting Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015 sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.  Five high priests of Sikhs on Tuesday announced the amount of ‘tankhah’, a religious punishment for misconduct. The highest seat of Sikhs cited the ‘mistakes’ committed by SAD and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.  SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia was also seen washing utensils at the Golden Temple. The punishment also asks Badal along with other leaders …

Sacrilege: But is An Sai Long better than even Lin Dan – after the 2024 Olympics gold? | Badminton News

Sacrilege: But is An Sai Long better than even Lin Dan – after the 2024 Olympics gold? | Badminton News

Published by Webster

You might not have heard of An Sai Long, the double Olympic champion, but China has. And he could stake claim to being better than the great Lin Dan, and even the Chinese won’t mind a ponder over that debate. It’s the Mandarin name adopted by Viktor Axelsen when he was 22 and became proficient in the language, proficient enough to charm the Chinese speaking to them in their tongue, after losing the Rio Olympics semifinal to Chen Long. The next day, he had earned their ungrudging respect beating Lin Dan for the 2016 Olympics bronze. Over the next 8 years, by the time he turned 30, Axelsen had equalled Super Dan to two Olympic titles, though his total Games medal count was one more than Dan – thanks to himself, for Axelsen had denied the greatest Chinese his third possible medal at Rio, after golds at Beijing and London. The World Championships count is still heavily skewed in favour of Lin Dan – his 5 world titles dwarfing out Axelsen’s 2. And the super …

Punjab govt approves prosecution of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim in sacrilege cases – India TV

Punjab govt approves prosecution of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim in sacrilege cases – India TV

Published by Webster

Image Source : FILE PHOTO Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has authorised the prosecution of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda in connection with the 2015 sacrilege cases. This decision comes in the wake of the recent Supreme Court judgment, in which the Punjab and Haryana High Court lifted the stay on hearing of these cases The Supreme Court cleared the way for the hearing before a bench headed by Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan on October 18. The court also directed Ram Rahim to respond within four weeks. Source link

SC lifts stay on Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s trial in sacrilege cases in big jolt to Dera Sacha Sauda chief – India TV

SC lifts stay on Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s trial in sacrilege cases in big jolt to Dera Sacha Sauda chief – India TV

Published by Webster

Image Source : FILE PHOTO Supreme Court lifts stay on Ram Rahim’s trial in sacrilege cases. The Supreme Court on Friday lifted the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the proceedings against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with the 2015 sacrilege case of Guru Granth Sahib desecration. The case, which was set aside by the Supreme Court in March, now moves forward after the apex court’s decision. Appeal of the Punjab government The Punjab government had resumed proceedings against Ram Rahim to challenge the Supreme Court stay of the trial. The Supreme Court not only lifted the stay but issued a notice to Ram Rahim to respond within four weeks. Background of the Case The case related to the 2015 sacrifice incident in Bargari, where the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib triggered widespread protests and outrage. Ram Rahim, who is already serving a jail sentence for other convictions, is facing mounting legal challenges as the investigation will be resumed after the Supreme Court verdict. Source …

In Faridkot, Indira Gandhi assassin’s son raises 2015 sacrilege case to draw votes | Political Pulse News

Published by Parlour News

Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the 45-year-old son of Beant Singh, one of the two assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is a regular contender in Punjab elections. This time, he has entered the fray as an Independent from the Scheduled Caste-reserved Faridkot Lok Sabha seat with the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration case as his primary campaign plank. Faridkot, which votes in the last phase on June 1, was the epicentre of the “sacrilege” case – in 2015, a case of the Sikh holy scripture being desecrated in the streets of Bargari village in the district sparked protests and led to the deaths of two protesters. The culprits, however, were never caught. “I decided to contest from Faridkot as I want to raise the issue of the 2015 sacrilege… Initially, I had no plans to contest but the Sikh Sangat (community) came to me,” Sarabjeet says. In the fray against him are the AAP’s Karamjit Anmol, an actor and singer, and the BJP’s Hans Raj Hans, a singer. While the Congress has fielded former government …

In Punjab’s Ferozepur, 19-year-old youth beaten to death over ‘sacrilege’ | Chandigarh News

Published by Parlour News

A 19-year-old youth was found dead soon after he was caught while allegedly committing a sacrilege at a gurdwara in Ferozepur’s Bandala village, Saturday, police said. Though videos surfaced in which villagers can be seen thrashing Bakshish Singh, they claimed that when they handed over the youth to the police he was alive. Bakshish Singh allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, after entering the premises of the Gurdwara Baba Bir Singh in Bandala village, police said. The incident was captured by the CCTV cameras installed at the gurdwara. His father Lakhwinder Singh said that Bakshish was mentally challenged and was undergoing treatment for it. He called on the police to register a case against those who killed his son.Police, meanwhile, filed an FIR against the youth for the alleged sacrilege. The FIR has no mention of the youth’s death. The FIR has been lodged based on a complaint by Lakhbir Singh, chairman, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee. As per the complaint, “Bakshish entered the gurdwara at …

19-yr-old Youth Beaten to Death Over ‘Sacrilege’ Charge in Punjab’s Ferozepur

Published by Webster

Last Updated: May 04, 2024, 23:44 IST Police have filed an FIR against the youth for the alleged sacrilege (Image: News18) According to police, Bakshish allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib and then tried to flee A 19-year-old youth was beaten to death following an alleged sacrilege incident that took place at a gurdwara here on Saturday, police said. Bakshish Singh, a resident of Talli Gulam village, allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, after entering the premises of the gurdwara in Bandala village, they said. His father Lakhwinder Singh said that Bakshish was mentally challenged and was undergoing treatment for it. Police have filed an FIR against the youth for the alleged sacrilege. Bakshish’s father, however, called on the police to register a case against those who killed his son. According to police, Bakshish allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib and then tried to flee. He was caught by some people and as the news of the alleged incident spread, villagers …