Chandigarh: The Punjab government's seven-member coordination committee on the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 has written to the Akal Takht secretariat asking it to fix a date, time and venue for a meeting with the panel formed by the Sikh temporal seat, The Times of India reported on October 31. The Akal Takht has not yet fixed a date.

The letter, dated October 23, reached the Akal Takht secretariat on Thursday, the report said. It was written on the committee's behalf by its nodal officer Harjeet Singh Sandhu, a PCS officer and joint principal secretary to the chief minister. Secretariat in-charge Bagicha Singh told the paper the letter had been brought to the notice of Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, who is visiting abroad.

Why the law is in dispute: the Akal Takht says it has no objection to stringent punishment for sacrilege, but argues that the government and legislature cannot decide Sikh religious terminology, maryada or the status and custodianship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib — this is the Akal Takht's stated position. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said the Act's provisions can be discussed but its core aim of strict punishment will not be diluted — this is the government's stated position.

The government panel includes former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa, Baba Sewa Singh of Rampur Khera, retired High Court judges Jaspal Singh and Gurbir Singh, former IPS officer Jatinder Singh Aulakh and law officer Preet Inder Paul Singh. The Akal Takht panel has retired Justice Rupinder Singh Sodhi, retired Justice Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Dr Kehar Singh and Professor Jagmohan Singh.

Background: the government panel held its first formal meeting at Punjab Bhawan on October 6, where it resolved that the Akal Takht's suggestions would be duly considered while the Act's core objective remained intact. On October 1 the Jathedar had asked the government to keep the Act in abeyance until consensus is reached.

What happens next: the Akal Takht secretariat has to name a date. Until it does, this is a request for a meeting — no change to the Act has been made.