Vishal Sharma, former Additional Advocate General of Jammu and Kashmir who was shifted to another department amid the beef controversy, has asked the state government to clarify whether or not he had been removed because of that row as reported in the media.
Sharma insisted that there was no lapse on his part in the case where the High Court ordered implementation of beef ban in the state and claimed that had informed Divisional Commissioners about it well in advance so that they could file their replies.
A few days after the High Court issued the beef ban directive triggering a controversy, Sharma was transferred from Home Department to Education and Rural development department on September 14.
In a 29-page letter to the Secretary, Law Department, he has said the media had indulged in "vilification campaign" against him to "sensationalise and scandalise the entire issue without verifying the exact facts coupled with their ignorance of law."
He said, "So far as the allocation of the department is concerned, I believe that the same is in ordinary course of business of the state and entirely your prerogative and has nothing to do with imputations as appearing in the media."
At the same time, "In case relocation of departments to me has anything to do with this controversy or defamatory allegations appearing in the media from the law department which I strongly disbelieve, the same may be communicated to me as it bears civil consequences as to my professional conduct," he said.
"I therefore believe that such false imputations against me are wrong and I sincerely and legitimately expect from the Law department to refute these false allegations who leveled against me, Sharma said.
