Srinagar, Aug 28 - The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Friday cleared the decks for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the Shopian rape and murder of two women that triggered public outrage across the valley.

A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the local bar association passed an order saying that the court was leaving it for the state government to decide if it wanted the CBI to investigate the May 30 crime.

'We feel it is up to the government to decide through which agency it would have the crime investigated. We accordingly leave the matter entirely to the discretion of the state government. We make it amply clear that none of our orders shall stand in the way of the government's move,' the court observed.

The state government had moved an application before the court maintaining that it was ready to have the Shopian rape and murder investigated by the CBI if the court allowed the plea.

The state government had earlier informed the state assembly that it was ready to have the case investigated by the CBI if it was needed to bring those responsible for the crime to justice.