A group of Sikh scholars, legal experts, and former officials on Monday demanded the complete repeal of the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, asserting that the state has no authority to legislate on matters concerning the sanctity of the Sikh faith.
Addressing the media here today, the speakers maintained that Guru Granth Sahib is central to the spiritual and institutional life of the Sikh Panth and should remain beyond the ambit of state legislation.
Those who addressed the media included Justice Nirmal Singh (retd), senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Ashok Singh Bagrian, former IAS officer Gurtej Singh, Paramjit Singh Gazi, Jaspal Singh Sidhu, Prof Davinder Singh, and Gurpreet Singh.
The speakers said the amendments made to the above-mentioned Act on April 13 this year appear to be politically driven ahead of the Assembly election rather than stemming from genuine concern for Sikh sentiment.
They also questioned the Punjab Government’s moral authority to bring such legislation after failing to secure justice in the Kotkapura and Bargari sacrilege cases.
Justice Nirmal Singh (retd) strongly opposed both the 2008 and 2026 laws, raising serious concerns over their implementation. “I insist that the 2008 Act and the 2026 Amendment be made null and void, as no court can govern the holy scripture,” he said.
He further questioned the legal process in sacrilege cases: “When such cases come to court, how will sacrilege be proven? Will torn ‘angs’ be matched? Where will the holy ‘saroop’ be kept — in a court malkhana? And with what decorum will it be produced in court?”
Senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal said both Acts were illegal, unethical, and unconstitutional and hence should be withdrawn unconditionally. “Rather than introducing amendments to ‘certain clauses’ as pointed out by the Akal Takht officiating Jathedar, it should be completely repealed,” he said.
Ashok Singh Bagrian said that matters related to Guru Granth Sahib belong exclusively to the Sikh Panth’s internal religious domain. The government cannot define or enforce religious codes (rehat maryada) or sacred practices.
Gurpreet Singh said the Sikh Panth must put its own house in order through internal consultation, theological clarity, and institutional reform. However, they made it clear that this does not give the Punjab Government any right to impose a legal framework upon the living Guru of the Sikhs.
