The Prevention of Offences  against Holy Scriptures Bill,2025.

Why in News? The Punjab Government has introduced the Prevention of Offences against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025. This legislation aims to protect religious harmony by criminalising acts of sacrilege against sacred texts. It proposes stringent punishments including life imprisonment and heavy fines. The Bill covers scriptures revered by multiple faiths in Punjab, reflecting the region’s diverse religious fabric.

Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains

Prelims : Key Provisions of Bill

Mains: GS 2

Definition of Offence:

The Bill defines an offence as any act of sacrilege against holy scriptures.
This includes:

• Damaging
• Defacing
• Destroying
• Disfiguring
• Burning
• Tearing
• Or any similar act that harms the sanctity of these texts.

The definition applies to the entire scripture or any part thereof. The objective is to protect all major religious communities equally.

Scope of Scriptures Protected:

The Bill explicitly lists key sacred scriptures held holy by different religious groups in Punjab:

• Sri Guru Granth Sahib and its extracts (e.g., Pothis, Gutka Sahib)
• Srimad Bhagavad Gita
• Quran Sharif
• Holy Bible

This inclusive approach recognises Punjab’s pluralistic society and aims to ensure equal respect for all faiths.

Investigation and Enforcement

• Only police officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent (DSP) or above will investigate these offences.
• This ensures seriousness, prompt action, and proper enforcement.
• The government has emphasised a robust enforcement mechanism to prevent a recurrence of sacrilege incidents.

Penalties and Punishments: