Amritsar/Chandigarh, November 14 — The expert committee of legal experts and scholars constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib has sought clarification from the Punjab government on its compliance with the Akal Takht's directives of May 11 and June 29, and on whether any order has been issued to stay the implementation of the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, ahead of a proposed meeting between the committee and the state government on November 18 to discuss the legislation.

Source: The North News

The committee discussed a letter dated November 13, received from the Nodal Officer of the Punjab Government's Coordination Committee, during its meeting held on November 14. Following the deliberations, the committee said it was willing to deliberate on the Satkar (Amendment) Act at the meeting proposed by the Punjab government for November 18, but maintained that the government must first clarify its position on the two questions.

Source: PunjabPage

Two questions, answered in yes or no

In a letter addressed to the Nodal Officer, committee coordinator Lakhvir Singh asked, first, whether the Punjab government has taken any steps so far to comply with the directives issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib on June 29, 2026 — directives to which, the committee noted, the Punjab government's Cabinet ministers and MLAs had expressed their agreement before the Five Singh Sahiban.

The second question asks whether the government has so far issued any order or notification to stay the operation of the Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, in accordance with the directives issued on May 11 and June 29. The committee has sought clear yes-or-no responses to both questions: if the government has taken action, it has been asked to provide the details, and if no steps have been taken, to explain the reasons. It has asked for the information immediately so that the next course of action can be considered.

Source: The North News

The meeting was attended by Justice (Retd) Rupinder Singh Sodhi, Justice (Retd) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, Senior Advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Sikh scholar Dr Kehar Singh and Professor Jagmohan Singh. Coordinator Lakhvir Singh, Additional Secretary of the SGPC, and Jaskaran Singh, Media Adviser to the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat, were also present.

Source: PunjabPage

Earlier development

On November 7, the same panel had taken a harder line, deciding at Anandpur Sahib that the government must completely stay the Act's implementation and submit a compliance report before any dialogue moved forward. The November 14 meeting is the first since then at which the panel has agreed to sit for the proposed talks — while keeping its two questions in front of the government. Read the November 7 story

Background: the Act and the dispute

The Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 was passed unanimously by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha at a special session on April 13, tightening punishment for desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, including life imprisonment and fines of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, Hindustan Times has reported. The Akal Takht has said it has no objection to stringent punishment for sacrilege, but argues that the government and the legislature cannot decide Sikh religious terminology, maryada or the status and custodianship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The Punjab government formed a seven-member coordination committee on September 16 to hold talks, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has earlier said the Akal Takht is supreme but the law against sacrilege will not be diluted, as Hindustan Times has reported.

Source: Jugti (reporting Hindustan Times / The Tribune)

What happens next rests on the government's reply: the panel has asked for an immediate response, and the proposed November 18 meeting is the next scheduled step in the talks between the two sides.