Akal Takht summons Sikh ministers, MLAs over Punjab anti-sacrilege law

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jun 16, 2026 05:08 AM IST

The panel said Sikh members of the Cabinet and Sikh legislators would be asked to explain their role in approving the law, which, it alleged, was passed despite opposition from panthic institutions. (Representational image)

The Akal Takht on Monday summoned all Sikh ministers in the Punjab Cabinet and Sikh MLAs across party lines to appear before it on June 29 over objections to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, saying the legislation was enacted without consulting the Sikh panth.

The decision was announced by a five-member panel of jathedars that met at the Akal Takht. The panel said Sikh members of the Cabinet and Sikh legislators would be asked to explain their role in approving the law, which, it alleged, was passed despite opposition from panthic institutions.

Addressing the gathering, Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj said the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had enacted the legislation without seeking the consent of the panth. He referred to a panthic gathering held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall on April 6, where it was resolved that no law relating to Sri Guru Granth Sahib or panthic institutions should be passed without the approval of the Sikh community’s representative bodies.

Despite that resolution, he said, the Punjab Cabinet approved the Bill on April 11, the Assembly passed it on April 13 and it subsequently received the Governor’s assent.

Gargajj said the Sikh panth had repeatedly expressed concern that the law undermines the authority and autonomy of traditional panthic institutions.

He announced that all Sikh ministers in the Punjab Cabinet had been directed to appear before the Akal Takht on June 29, the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Hindu ministers, he said, had not been summoned in person but had been asked to submit written replies.

The Akal Takht had last month issued a notice to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, seeking a response within 15 days to objections raised against the legislation. According to the jathedar, no reply was received. The summons have now been extended to Sikh MLAs from all political parties.

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Gargajj reiterated that decisions and religious directives concerning Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh panth must emanate from Sikh religious institutions and not from the government. He warned that the concerns raised by the community over the legislation could not be ignored and must be addressed.

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Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts.

Core Beats & Specializations

Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions.

National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups.

Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur.

Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)

His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies:

1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht

"Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.

"YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies.

"As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications.

2. Crime & National Security

"Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison.

"Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border.

"15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions.

3. Political Analysis & Elections

"AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress.

"Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages.

"AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions.

4. Human Interest

"Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction.

"Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo.

Signature Beat

Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect.

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