A two-judge bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday stayed an earlier order passed by the court that called for hoisting the state flag alongside the tricolour on all government buildings and vehicles.

The earlier order had been challenged by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which governs the state in coalition with the People's Democratic Body. Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Nirmal Singh had said earlier this week that no flag could be hoisted at an equal level to the national flag.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state permitted to fly its own state flag alongside the tricolour. The state's constitution makes it mandatory for the state and national flags to be hoisted together. The court had earlier ruled that the state flag is one of the attributes of constitutional autonomy enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir.