A curfew last week after protests over a court ordering enforcement of beef ban
The Jammu and Kashmir government has shifted its additional advocate general Vishal Sharma from the state home department for his alleged failure to defend government on beef ban case in the high court.
Last week, the court had ordered that a little-known law passed in 1932 banning cow slaughter and the sale of beef in the state be strictly enforced. The order led to massive protests and the opposition National Conference said it would introduce a bill to bring changes in the 1932 law.
On Monday, the law department issued orders giving Mr Sharma the responsibility of the education department. He was replaced by advocate Wasim Nargal.
No action, however, was taken against Parimoksh Seth -- the lawyer who had filed the petition in court last year and pursued it even after being appointed the state's deputy advocate general six months ago.
The government had been facing a tough balancing act on the issue.
The PDP has said it was not in favour of a ban that impinges on people's personal choices. But sources in the government said it is also trying strike a balance with ally BJP. The two ruling allies hold opposing views on the beef ban.
The BJP is facing criticism over a temporary meat ban in five party-ruled states on the occasion of a Jain festival. In Jammu, BJP's Union minister of State for agriculture Sanjeev Balyan said on Monday that the court's decision should be strictly implemented, and action taken against any individual who defies it.
The opposition parties have said an executive order be passed immediately so there is no restriction on Bakar Eid at the end of this month, when Muslims across the world perform animal sacrifices.
The Congress has said it would support the bill of the National Conference to amend the 1932 law.