The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday deferred hearing a public interest litigation challenging Punjab’s amended anti-sacrilege law, stating that it would first determine whether the petition was maintainable. The court indicated that concerns had been raised regarding whether material facts relating to the petitioner’s background had been fully disclosed before filing the plea.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing the matter filed by Simranjeet Singh, a 43-year-old resident of Jalandhar. The petition challenges the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which recently received the assent of the Punjab governor and has since come into force.

During the initial proceedings, the Punjab government questioned the petitioner’s credentials and pointed to past criminal cases allegedly registered against him, along with the suspension of his licence to practise law. In response, the bench observed that before examining the constitutional challenge itself, it would first need to assess whether the petitioner had approached the court with clean hands and whether the petition met the standards required for a PIL.

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The petition contends that the amended law violates Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. It argues that the legislation limits protection to one religious scripture and therefore creates unequal treatment. The plea also claims that the law’s definition of sacrilege is vague and open to broad interpretation, raising concerns about possible misuse and arbitrary enforcement.

The High Court’s decision to first examine maintainability means the substantive constitutional questions will be addressed only after the petitioner’s eligibility and disclosures are scrutinised. The case is expected to draw attention as it involves both constitutional rights and a sensitive law linked to religious sentiments and public order in Punjab.

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