Gurbani from The Harmandir Sahib Can Now be Broadcast by Anyone ‘Free of Cost’: Know the Amended Law!

The Punjab state legislative assembly on 20th June 2023, passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, to insure “free-of-cost broadcast” of Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib (the coveted Golden Temple) across various platforms, despite strong opposition from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) lawmakers, who nominated it an hindrance against Sikhs’ affairs.

The Corresponding Amendment Brought

The House passed the correction in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 by fitting in Section 125A for ‘Live telecast of Gurbani free-of-cost'.

Part-1 of Section 125A reads: “It shall be the duty of the board to propagate the teachings of the Gurus by making uninterrupted (without any on screen running advertisements or commercials or distortion) live feed (audio or audio as well as video) of holy Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib available free-of-cost to all media houses, outlets, platforms, channels etc, whosoever wishes to broadcast anywhere (including all over the world).”

Part- 2 makes it legal for anyone to broadcast the holy Gurbani from the Harmandir Sahib.

Background of The Issue

Until now, PTC, a private channel in which Shiromani Akali Dal Chairman Sukhbir Singh Badal has stakes, had the exclusive telecast rights of Gurbani. Due to this, Badal had been indicted of monopolizing the telecast, a charge that he has refuted.

Importance of Gurbani

Pressing on the significance of the Guru-Bani, the AAP MLA Mr. Budh Ram said “mukh waak” has a special significance in Sikh religion as Sikhs start their day by reciting “mukh waak ” from Sri Guru Granth Sahib and with the correction, the same should be broadcasted all across the globe. Giving a singular channel the rights for telecast, he said, makes wide distribution not feasible enough.

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