# Punjab forms 7-member panel on anti-sacrilege law amid Akal Takht objections 2026-09-16T19:02:01+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The Punjab government on Wednesday constituted a seven-member coordination committee to hold discussions with the Akal Takht panel on the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, has raised objections to the law, particularly over Sikh terminology, the 'custodian' of the religious text, and assigning unique numbers to holy 'Birs'. The committee includes former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Giani Harnam Singh Khalsa, Sant Baba Sewa Singh of Rampur Khera, retired justices Jaspal Singh and Gurbir Singh, retired IPS officer Jatinder Singh Aulakh, and law officer Preet Inder Pal Singh. The panel will coordinate, discuss, and submit a report with suggestions to the state government. The anti-sacrilege law, passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly on April 13, imposes life imprisonment and fines of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for sacrilege. Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj had rejected the government's earlier response as unsatisfactory and set a two-month deadline for consensus. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The three outlets all report the same core fact but frame the catalyst differently. Times of India leads with the committee formation as a routine follow-up to the government's notification of the Act, quoting a minister's statement on commitment to Sikh honour. India Today and Hindustan Times front-load the Akal Takht's objections and the rejection of the government's earlier response, framing the panel as a response to a religious directive with a deadline. The balanced reading: the government acted only after the Akal Takht rejected its reply and set a two-month deadline, making this panel a concession to temporal authority. The panel's report and the Akal Takht's response to it will determine whether the law proceeds or is amended. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with government's committee formation, quotes minister's statement, no mention of Akal Takht's objections - indiatoday.in (neutral report) Leads with Akal Takht objections, frames panel as response to religious directive - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Leads with Akal Takht objections and rejection of government response, adds timeline details Tags: Akal Takht, Bhagwant Mann, Punjab government, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/punjab-forms-7-member-panel-to-coordinate-with-akal-takht-on-anti-sacrilege-law/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/punjab-forms-7-member-panel-to-coordinate-with-akal-takht-on-anti-sacrilege-law/#story-in-brief