Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed Aseem Sawhney, one of the defence lawyers in the Kathua rape and murder case, as an additional advocate general of the state, drawing criticism from former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah.
In an order issued on Tuesday, the state government appointed 31 advocates as additional advocates general, deputy advocates general and government advocates,
with 15 in the Kashmir wing of the high court and 16 in the Jammu wing.
One of the 16 names of law officers for the Jammu wing is Aseem Sawhney - one of the defence lawyers in the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old nomad girl in Kathua.
Sawhney has been appointed as an additional advocate general. The appointment has raised eyebrows.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti called it a shocking violation of the spirit of justice and alleged that it would encourage "rape culture". She also voiced hope that the Governor will intervene in the issue.
NC leader Omar Abdullah said the decision was both inexplicable and worrisome.