Latest news with #Bill2018
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Punjab's AAP govt weighs death penalty for sacrilege, a look at previous Bills with harsh punishment
The AAP-led Punjab government is exploring options to legislate capital punishment for sacrilege. It is the third successive government to introduce legislation providing for harsh punishment for sacrilege, and the new Bill, expected to be tabled in a special Vidhan Sabha session on July 10 and 11, will be harsher than its predecessors. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been proposing the death penalty for anyone guilty of sacrilege. The government is seeking a legal opinion on whether it can propose the death penalty for sacrilege. If the government gets the go-ahead, the Bill will propose capital punishment for sacrilege during the Assembly's two-day special session. The AAP government wants to table a 'historic' piece of legislation in the Assembly with the harshest punishment ever proposed by its predecessors. The Bill will be in line with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), while the earlier Bills were proposed insertions in the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Centre has returned the previous Bills as they sought amendments to the IPC and the CrPC, while the country's criminal law framework has shifted to the BNS, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). During Amarinder's tenure as chief minister, the Vidhan Sabha unanimously passed the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018, which stipulated punishment up to life imprisonment for injury, damage or sacrilege to the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagwat Gita, Quran and the Bible with the intention to hurt the religious feelings of the people. The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018 sought to amend the IPC by inserting section 295AA, under which a convict was to get a maximum of three years' imprisonment with or without a fine. It also enhanced the punishment under IPC section 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) from two to 10 years of imprisonment. In March 2016, the SAD-BJP government brought in the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2016, recommending a life sentence for the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib only. The Centre, however, returned the Bill saying all religions should be treated equally given the secular nature of the Constitution. It added that it could not single out one religion and propose life imprisonment for the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. It asked the Punjab government to either withdraw the Bill or include all religions in the proposed amendment. The state government argued that the Guru Granth Sahib is not a holy book but a live Guru, unlike the scriptures of other religions. In October 2015, during SAD-BJP rule, an alleged instance of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari changed the political narrative in Punjab. It was felt that the quantum of punishment for sacrilege as per the provisions of sections 295 and 295 A of the Indian Penal Code was too inadequate. Also, the government move comes at a time when the health of a protester who has been demanding harsher punishment while sitting atop a BSNL tower in Samana since October 2024, is deteriorating. Concerns are mounting that if something happens to Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, the protester, it would trigger a political storm and create a law and order situation. There has been a debate that sacrilege laws could send wrong signals as such harsher punishment could embolden politicians and police to misuse them to harass critics. The Centre has asked the state to reconsider these Bills. Against the backdrop of this debate, it remains to be seen if the state government is able to propose the death penalty for sacrilege.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab considering law with death penalty for sacrilege, to convene special Assembly session
The Punjab government is attempting to bring in a legislation providing for stricter punishment against crimes of sacrilege, and is exploring legal options for a provision of death penalty for those found guilty. 'We will be convening a special session of Vidhan Sabha on July 10 and 11 to bring a historic legislation for stricter punishment against those found guilty of sacrilege. The Centre should have done it. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is bringing it in Punjab as it understands the emotions of the people of the state,' AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said on Saturday. Sacrilege and the need for tougher legislation has been an emotive issue in the state. In October 2015, during the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government's term, an incident of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari had changed the political narrative in the state, delivering a blow to the Akali Dal from which it has been struggling to recover. Almost every government since then has attempted to bring in legislation providing for stricter punishment for sacrilege. Sources said such a legislation will require a state-specific amendment to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had earlier highlighted that while the BNS has clear provisions regarding religious places, it remains silent on Sikh holy granths. However, he said, since the subject falls under the concurrent list, the state has the authority to enact such a legislation, and that legal opinion would be sought accordingly. Mann had said that this process would be completed shortly and that a Cabinet meeting would be convened soon. A source in the ruling AAP government told The Indian Express, 'We are bringing in a legislation. We are seeking a legal opinion on whether the death penalty is legally tenable. The Chief Minister, in his public addresses, has advocated death penalty for these crimes several times. The government is now taking a legal opinion on whether this can be done. Otherwise, we will go ahead with life sentence as punishment.' AAP will be the third successive government to bring a legislation against sacrilege. The move comes seven years after former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's Congress government passed two Bills providing for stricter punishment against crimes of sacrilege but could not get the President's assent. During the Congress regime, the Punjab Assembly had in 2018 passed The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018 and The Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018, which stipulated punishment up to life imprisonment for injury, damage or sacrilege to Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagwat Gita, Holy Quran and Holy Bible with the intention to hurt the religious feelings of the people. The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018, sought to amend the IPC by inserting Section 295AA. Under the existing Section 295 A, a convict is subjected to punishment for a maximum of three years imprisonment with or without fine. It also sought to enhance the punishment under Section 295 IPC (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) from two to ten years of imprisonment. Sources said the Centre recently returned the sacrilege Bills passed by the Amarinder government in 2018, asking it to legislate afresh keeping in view the provisions of the BNS. The two Bills were about insertions in the provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Earlier, in March 2016, the then SAD-BJP government had brought in The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, and The Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, recommending life sentence for desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Centre had returned the Bill saying all religions needed to be treated equally as per the secular nature of the Constitution. It asked the Punjab government to either withdraw the Bill or include all religions in the proposed amendment. Later, in August 2018, the Amarinder government passed the two Bills by including the holy scriptures of all faiths. In 2022, CM Mann had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking Presidential assent to the two Bills passed seven years ago. The government's decision to bring a new legislation with provisions for death penalty stems from political and public demands for harsher punishments for sacrilege. Among the protesters is Gurjeet Singh Khalsa who has been protesting atop a BSNL tower in Samana, Patiala, since October 2024. He has been demanding the death penalty for those found guilty of sacrilege. It is learnt that the Chief Secretary KAP Sinha had briefed CM Mann about the protester, stating that if something happened to him, it could create a law and order situation since sacrilege was an emotive issue. Last week, CM Mann had met representatives of the Sarb Dharam Beadbi Rokko Kanoon Morcha, one of the outfits seeking stricter punishment for sacrilege, and promised them that the state government would introduce legislation against such acts. after the meeting, the Chief Minister had stated that the government would consult legal experts to ensure that a robust state legislation is enacted, and explore the possibility of capital punishment for such crimes. While the CM has been calling for capital punishment for sacrilege, a few leaders in the party are of the view that death penalty would be too harsh and may be not be legally tenable.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia House, Senate move to fast-track CTE teachers
The historic facade of Virginia's new General Assembly Building in Richmond. (Photo by Sarah Vogelsong/Virginia Mercury) With a growing demand for skilled workers, Virginia lawmakers are tackling a critical issue: the shortage of career and technical education (CTE) teachers. A bipartisan effort to provide an alternative pathway for CTE instructors has cleared both chambers of the General Assembly and now awaits review by the governor. Businesses across the state have struggled to fill workforce gaps, a challenge that has been a major focus of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration. While CTE programs are seen as a vital pipeline for future workers, they face the same staffing shortages as public schools. 'The shortage is expected to worsen over the next five years, and the demand for these programs is increasing,' said Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, who sponsored Senate Bill 879, during a Senate subcommittee hearing last month. Virginia recorded more than 708,800 students enrolled in at least one CTE course during the 2022-23 school year, Ebbin noted. Yet, filling teaching positions remains a major hurdle — especially for career switchers facing what he called 'unrealistic coursework' requirements before they can teach in their specialized fields. Ebbin's legislation and House Bill 2018 aim to address this challenge by allowing CTE teacher candidates to receive a provisional license for up to three years. To qualify, candidates must have completed high school or hold an equivalent certificate, along with a special certificate or license in their subject area. The programs impacted include construction, manufacturing, public safety, and transportation. But unlike traditional teacher licensure, candidates would not have to fulfill all Virginia Board of Education requirements for a full teaching license. Del. Bonita Anthony, D-Norfolk, who carried the legislation in the House and transitioned from engineering to teaching, emphasized the legislation's broader impact. 'By addressing teacher shortages and supporting CTE programs, this bill strengthens Virginia's workforce and classrooms,' she said. Her bill was modified to align with the Senate version, which was more 'narrowly focused,' according to House Education Committee Chair Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke. A key addition to the House version of the bill was the equivalency assessment framework, designed to ensure licensure keeps pace with evolving industry standards. The legislation has drawn backing from some Northern Virginia school divisions, the Virginia Manufacturers Association, SkillsUSA Virginia Foundation, and the Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education. While education advocates generally support giving candidates time to earn industry credentials, some worry about cutting essential coursework. Virginia Education Association Policy Analyst Chad Stewart told a Senate subcommittee last month that skipping key teaching courses — such as classroom management — could hurt new instructors. 'We think these teachers are going to be more likely to stay in the classroom if they have these skills,' Stewart said. 'They're also three-hour courses that you can take over the course of three years while you're on your provisional license. We don't see this as overbearing. We see these as essential courses that should be taken by all teachers to be effective and serve all students well.' Despite the debate, the legislation is moving forward. On Thursday, the Senate Education and Health Committee advanced HB 2018 to the full Senate for consideration. Meanwhile, Ebbin's version of the bill sailed through the Senate with a unanimous 40-0 vote on Monday and now heads to the House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
