Picture used for representational purpose

CHANDIGARH: In a step to curb incidents of desecration, the Punjab cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to carry out amendments to the code of criminal procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) so as to make sacrilege of all religious texts punishable with life imprisonment.

The council of ministers also approved a series of other Bills to be tabled before the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha session starting from August 24.

The cabinet approved insertion of Section 295AA to the IPC to provide “whoever causes injury, damage or sacrilege to Sri Guru Granth Sahib , Srimad Bhagwad Geeta, Holy Quran and Holy Bible with the intention to hurt the religious feelings of the people, shall be punished with imprisonment for life.”

The council of ministers also approved the withdrawal of the CrPC (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the IPC (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016 passed in the 14th Vidhan Sabha session in 2016. This Bill was in March last year returned back by the central government stating Punjab’s Bill was only pertaining to sacrilege cases of Guru Granth Sahib. The Centre had stated if the Bill is passed in its present form, the proposed amendment would violate the principle of secularism. The Punjab assembly had passed the amendment Bills in March 2016 and the governor had given his assent in April 2016.

The Bill for restoration of SC employees’ promotion quota

The council of ministers also approved introduction of a Bill in the assembly to ensure restoration of 14% reservation in Group A and B and 20% reservation in Group C and D to the members of the scheduled castes during promotions.

Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana high court in its judgment on February 20, had struck down various sections of The Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006. Thereafter, the Punjab government had decided to restore 14% reservation in Group A and B and 20% in Group C and D to the SC employees.

