Punish those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib under Section 302 of IPC: SGPC

Amritsar,Punjab:The SGPC is set to write to the Centre seeking amendment in Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC. The Sikh body wants the section to also apply to instances of where disrespect is shown to the Guru Granth Sahib and holy scriptures by setting these on fire in violation of the Sikh Maryada.

Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib as a “living guru”. Even the Supreme Court, in a judgment, had held the holy scripture as “person”, provided it was duly installed in a gurdwara.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar on Tuesday said he will write to the Centre regarding this after he returns from New Delhi, where he is camping currently for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee polls.

In fact, the SGPC has demanded the registration of a case under Section 302 of the IPC against one Baba Palwinder Singh — a Mari Megha village resident in Tarn Taran district — for allegedly burning religious books containing contents from Guru Granth Sahib and later throwing these in a heap of garbage.

“Guru Granth Sahib is living guru of Sikhs. Earlier also, we had demanded the registration of a case under Section 302 of IPC against whosoever indulges in such acts. But the police never registered a case of murder. A case under Section 295 A (hurting religious sentiments) is registered every time. We will now seek amendment in law to include the offence under Section 302,” Makkar said.

“The court has ruled that Guru Granth Sahib is a living person. There are properties in the name of Guru Granth Sahib at many places. Anyone who sets on fire copies or contents of Guru Granth Sahib without following the laid down Maryada should be booked in a murder case,” said Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh.He added: “When saroops (copies) of Guru Granth Sahib get old, there is a provision to consign those to flames following the Maryada. But those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib should be booked under the same section as in the case of a murder accused. This would send a strong signal and go a long way in checking recurrence of such cases. Section 295-A is very mild and does not act as a deterrent to check repeat of such incidents by the same person. The offender booked under Section 295-A easily gets bail.”

Source:The Indian Express

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