The Jammu and Kashmir government’s top brass on Monday resumed functioning from the civil secretariat in Srinagar following six months in Jammu, the winter capital.
The annual migration of shifting offices was halted due to restrictions imposed by the LG administration, citing an additional financial burden on J&K’s state exchequer.
Additionally, ending the practice facilitated a year-round digital operation of offices in both cities, leading to the cancellation of government housing for officials in the non-operational city.
Political parties, particularly those aiming to strengthen local economies, had voiced their support for reinstating the Darbar Move. They argue that its absence has led to uneven economic opportunities across regions.
However, after a record win in the recent assembly elections, the Ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference resumed the annual affair, citing harsh winter conditions forcing disruptions in holding the assembly session.
“Today, I resumed office at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar after six months. The focus now is clear — action, accountability, and reaching every individual through good governance and development. Let’s make these six months count,” the Office of the Chief Minister quoted Omar Abdullah as saying in a post on his social media handle.
While both offices remain operational throughout the year, the top brass — including the lieutenant governor, ministers, and administrative secretaries — are based in the summer capital from May to early November and in Jammu for the remainder.
Earlier, the government and the entire Civil Secretariat staff would move bases between Srinagar and Jammu every six months under a pre-Independence practice called Darbar Move that was started by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1872.
Recently, discussions emerged regarding the potential reintroduction of Jammu & Kashmir’s historic “Darbar Move,” a biannual tradition involving the relocation of government offices between Jammu and Srinagar.
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