Darbar Move Resumes in Srinagar After Four-Year Gap | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The annual Darbar Move resumed in Srinagar on Monday after a four-year suspension, marking the seasonal relocation of the Union Territory’s administrative machinery from Jammu.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah received a ceremonial guard of honour amid heightened security arrangements as the Civil Secretariat and other government offices formally reopened in Srinagar for the summer session. The offices had been functioning from Jammu during the winter months and were closed there on April 30 as part of the bi-annual shifting process.

Officials said stringent security measures were put in place to ensure the smooth reopening of government establishments. Preparatory works, including road maintenance and infrastructure readiness, were completed in advance to facilitate the transition.

According to official orders issued by the General Administration Department, five-day working offices in Jammu closed on April 30, while six-day offices ceased operations on May 2. Around 38 departments have fully relocated to Srinagar, while several others are functioning with limited staff on a camp basis.

Departments will operate with reduced staffing, capped at 33 per cent or a maximum of 10 officials per office. Employees posted for the Srinagar shift will receive a special allowance of Rs 25,000, officials said.

Working hours in Srinagar have been fixed at 9:30 am to 5:30 pm for Secretariat departments and 10:00 am to 4:30 pm for other offices. A summer secretariat will continue to function in Jammu as well.

The Darbar Move is a 150-year-old administrative tradition involving the bi-annual transfer of the seat of government between Jammu and Srinagar to ensure administrative accessibility across both regions. It was initiated in 1872 by Maharaja Gulab Singh to avoid extreme weather conditions in the two capitals and continued after Independence as a governance practice.

The tradition was suspended in 2021 under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration but has now been restored in 2025 under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a year after he assumed office.