The desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scripture of the Sikh faith, represents one of the most sensitive and emotionally charged issues in Punjab. Despite numerous incidents over the years and widespread public outrage, many culprits remain unpunished, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the justice system and the complex challenges surrounding these cases.
The 2015 Crisis: The most significant wave of sacrilege incidents occurred in 2015, marking a watershed moment in Punjab’s recent history. The cases pertain to incidents involving the alleged desecration of religious texts, which sparked significant violence and protests in Punjab in 2015. These incidents didn’t just represent isolated acts of desecration but triggered a chain of events that would expose deeper systemic issues in the investigation and prosecution of such cases.
The 2015 incidents were particularly shocking because they appeared coordinated and systematic. Multiple copies of the holy scripture were found desecrated across different locations, suggesting an organized conspiracy rather than random acts. This led to massive protests across Punjab, with the Sikh community demanding immediate justice and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Legal Framework and Legislative Response
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Punjab government took legislative action to strengthen the legal framework. On 20 November 2015, the Punjab Cabinet approved an amendment to the Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code. The new Section 295AA carried a maximum sentence of life in prison for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.
In 2016, the Akali-BJP government had passed two bills — the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016 — recommending life imprisonment for the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. These bills were sent to the Union government for approval, highlighting the constitutional complexities involved in such legislation.
The current Punjab government has continued this legislative push. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the Anti-sacrilege Bill will ensure that no such heinous crime takes place in the future by making provision of the sternest punishment against culprits. Most recently, Punjab has introduced comprehensive anti-sacrilege legislation in 2025 that extends protection to all religious texts, not just the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Investigation Maze: Multiple Agencies, Conflicting Approaches
One of the primary reasons for the delayed justice has been the complex web of investigating agencies and their conflicting approaches. The Punjab government issued fresh notifications on Thursday for the withdrawal of sacrilege cases from the CBI. As per the new notifications, these cases will now be probed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab police.
This transfer of cases from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to state police reflects the political tensions surrounding these investigations. The frequent changes in investigating agencies have led to:
Loss of continuity in investigations
Duplication of efforts and resources
Political interference in the investigative process
Delays in collecting and processing evidence
The Dera Connection: A Complex Web Unraveled
A significant breakthrough came recently when investigations revealed connections to powerful religious organizations. “Pardeep Kler was arrested on February 2024, and in his statement under Section 164 of CrPC, he admitted that dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was involved in all the sacrilege incidents during that period,” the official sanction order reads.
The Punjab govt approves prosecution of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim in sacrilege cases as of October 2024, marking a significant development in these long-pending cases. This connection to organized religious groups has added layers of complexity to the investigations, involving:
Political patronage and protection
Intimidation of witnesses and investigators
Resource constraints in investigating powerful organizations
Inter-state coordination challenges
The Vigilante Justice Problem
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the sacrilege issue has been the rise of mob justice and vigilantism. An alleged act of beadabi or desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib leads to the swift capture of the accused by a crowd, followed by a lynching. Mob justice is dispensed before due process has a chance to intervene. Often, those accused of these crimes turn out to be either mentally unsound individuals.
Sacrilege cases in Punjab are exacting a grim toll, with two accused dead and another injured in span of just a month. ‘Intolerant radical element emerging among Sikhs’, says expert. This trend of instant justice has created several problems:
Destruction of evidence before proper investigation
Loss of potential witnesses through intimidation
Creation of a climate of fear that hampers investigation
Blurring of lines between victims and perpetrators
Ongoing Challenges and Systemic Issues
The failure to bring culprits to justice stems from multiple systemic issues:
1. Mental Health Dimensions
Many accused individuals suffer from mental health issues, complicating both the investigation and prosecution processes. This raises questions about intent, capacity, and the appropriate legal response.
2. Evidence Collection Challenges
The local sevadars who retrieved these particular Saroops, they were stunned to discover that the culprits had also slashed many of the Angs and torn up the binding on some of the Saroops, indicating the deliberate and systematic nature of some incidents. However, the emotional response often leads to evidence tampering before proper forensic examination.
3. Political Interference
The highly politicized nature of these cases has led to:
Frequent changes in investigation teams
Pressure for quick results over thorough investigation
Use of cases for political gain rather than justice
4. Social Stigma and Exile
Indian Penal Code prescribes only a 3-yr imprisonment for attempting sacrilege. In Punjabi society, though, those accused of sacrilege or beadbi are exiled for life. This social ostracism often drives accused individuals underground, making investigation and prosecution more difficult.
The Path Forward: Recommendations for Justice
To ensure justice in these cases, several measures need to be implemented:
Institutional Reforms
Establish specialized courts for sacrilege cases with trained judges
Create dedicated investigation teams with expertise in religious sensitivity
Implement witness protection programs to encourage cooperation
Legislative Measures
Strengthen the legal framework while ensuring due process rights
Harmonize central and state laws to avoid jurisdictional conflicts
Include provisions for rehabilitation of mentally ill accused persons
Community Engagement
Promote dialogue between religious leaders and law enforcement
Create awareness about the importance of due process
Establish community policing initiatives in sensitive areas
Technological Solutions
Use advanced forensic techniques for evidence collection
Implement digital case tracking systems for transparency
Deploy CCTV surveillance in religious places
The desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji strikes at the heart of Sikh religious sentiment, making it one of the most emotionally charged issues in Punjab. While the government has strengthened laws and increased penalties, the delayed justice reflects deeper systemic issues in investigation, prosecution, and the administration of justice.
The recent breakthrough in connecting some cases to organized conspiracies offers hope, but much work remains to be done. Justice delayed is justice denied, and for the Sikh community, these unsolved cases represent not just a failure of the legal system but a wound that continues to fester.
True justice in these cases requires not just punishing the guilty but also addressing the underlying issues that allow such incidents to occur. This includes tackling mental health problems, preventing the misuse of religious sentiments for political gain, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails over mob justice.
Only through a comprehensive approach that combines strengthened laws, improved investigation techniques, community engagement, and respect for due process can Punjab hope to prevent future incidents and ensure justice for past ones. The sanctity of religious beliefs must be protected, but so must the principles of justice and rule of law that form the foundation of a democratic society.