CM Omar Abdullah Announces Revival of Darbar Move – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announced the revival of the historic Darbar Move, the bi-annual shifting of the Union Territory’s capital between Jammu and Srinagar.

Addressing a press conference, Omar Abdullah said the state cabinet has formally approved the resumption of the practice, which had been suspended for over four years.

“The proposal was sent to the Lieutenant Governor for concurrence and has now been cleared. The government will soon implement the decision to restart the Darbar Move,” the Chief Minister said.

The move follows a cabinet recommendation made in September, seeking a return to the full-fledged Darbar system, which was discontinued in 2021 under the administration of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.

Originally introduced in 1872 by Maharaja Gulab Singh, the Darbar Move was designed to ensure administrative convenience and regional balance, with Srinagar serving as the summer capital and Jammu as the winter capital.

The revival is aimed at restoring historical continuity and strengthening administrative outreach across both regions of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.