Punjab Vidhan Sabha to debate bill for life imprisonment in sacrilege cases

It is learnt that the Bill besides mandates mounting up of peculiar courts for trying crimes of sacrilege

Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party authorities volition connected Monday contiguous its draught Bill to marque sacrilege punishable by beingness imprisonment.

The draught Bill has already been approved by the Council of Ministers successful a Cabinet gathering chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

It is understood that the Bill besides mandates the constitution of peculiar courts for trying crimes of sacrilege. Those recovered blameworthy volition not person the privilege of getting parole portion serving their time.

This volition not beryllium an amendment to the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, which has Sections 298 and 299 dealing with crimes related to sacrilege. Instead, the authorities authorities is introducing its ain legislation.

“There is nary strict instrumentality successful Punjab to punish those who perpetrate sacrilege. This caller instrumentality volition punish those who desecrate spiritual scriptures and spiritual places with beingness imprisonment,” said an authoritative source.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced past week that the draught would not beryllium enacted immediately, but would archetypal beryllium discussed with each stakeholders.

He said that a consultative committee would beryllium formed to instrumentality the draught to the people, spiritual leaders, and institutions, and to stitchery their views connected making punishment harsher for offenders.