Civil Secretariat resumes work in Srinagar, offices reopen

Srinagar, May 04: The Civil Secretariat resumed operations in Srinagar on Monday, marking the annual Darbar Move and the formal shift of the Jammu and Kashmir administration from Jammu after the winter session.

Government offices, including that of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, began functioning in the summer capital from today. The Chief Minister was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour on arrival at the Secretariat.

The Secretariat in Jammu had concluded its six-month winter session last week, following which departments initiated their relocation to Srinagar. Administrative arrangements were put in place in advance, including infrastructure readiness and necessary repair works, to ensure continuity in governance.

As per orders issued by the General Administration Department, five-day offices in Jammu closed on April 30, while six-day offices ceased operations on May 2. Around 38 departments have completed their move to Srinagar, while some are operating on a camp basis with limited staff.

Official working hours in Srinagar have been fixed from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm for Secretariat departments and from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm for other offices. A parallel summer secretariat will continue to function in Jammu.

The Darbar Move is a bi-annual administrative practice under which the government shifts between Jammu and Srinagar in line with seasonal requirements, aimed at maintaining administrative reach across both regions.