From the roof tops of buildings and flag poles of vehicles carrying constitutional authorities the State flag of Jammu & Kashmir on Sunday made its presence felt for the first time on the wooden stand fitted with sound system at the inaugural function of workshop on National Food Security Act (NFSA) here in Jammu.
The day-long orientation-cum workshop organised by the consumer Affairs and Public distribution department (CAPD) was addressed by PDP Minister Zulfkar Ali.
The episode has come to light barely two days after a division bench of the State High Court had stayed a single judge order asking the Jammu and Kashmir Government to hoist the State flag on all its buildings and flagpoles of vehicles carrying constitutional authorities.
In the past when ever such workshops and seminars were organised where State Cabinet Ministers were chief guests neither the tricolour nor State flag was displayed on the wooden stand in front of the guest speakers.
It was not known immediately who actually had directed the organisers of the workshop to fix the State flag along with tricolor on the wooden stand fitted with mike system.
It was on Friday the division bench of Justices Bl Bhat and Tashi Rabstan had stayed the order after hearing former IGP Farooq Khan’s petition that argued the national flag is supreme and it can’t be treated on a par with the State flag.
The issue of hoisting a state flag had earlier triggered a political controversy in March 2015 when General Administration department had issued a circular that directed hoisting of the State flag alongside the Tricolour on State Government buildings and flag poles of vehicles of constitutional authorities . When the BJP strongly protested the same circular was withdrawn by the Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed to diffuse the crisis.
The recent development had also triggered a slugfest with former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cornering ailing Mufti Mohammed Sayeed saying he should step down and find someone who can defend the state’s dignity and flag from “nefarious” plans of coalition partner BJP.
While disposing of a writ petition filed by one Abdul Qayoom Khan,
Justice Hasnain Masoodi on December 27 had directed the State Government to hoist the State flag on all official buildings and flagpoles of all official cars carrying constitutional authorities.
Petitioner Qayoom Khan had complained that the state flag was not being hoisted on official buildings and cars despite issuance of a circular.
Appearing for Farooq Khan, senior advocate Sunil Sethi had pointed out before the division bench that the issue put before the single bench was basically political, to be determined by the State legislature and not by the courts.