Darbar Moves to Srinagar from May 4

Srinagar, Apr 15: The government on Wednesday ordered the annual Darbar Move of offices from Jammu to Srinagar for the Summer Season 2026, laying out a detailed schedule for closure, reopening, transport, security and administrative arrangements.

As per Government Order No 786-3K(GAD) of 2026 dated April 15, offices observing a five-day week will close in Jammu on April 30 after office hours, while those following a six-day week will close on May 2. All offices will reopen in Srinagar on May 4.

The order states that only 33 per cent of staff strength or a maximum of 10 officials, whichever is less, will move into the camp. The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has been directed to provide adequate buses on May 1 and May 3, with bookings to begin from April 20.

To ensure smooth transit, each convoy will be accompanied by a crane, two empty buses and mobile workshops to handle breakdowns. J&K Police will escort the convoys and ensure priority passage through key tunnels, including the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel and Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel.

Healthcare facilities will be set up along the route at Jhajjar Kotli, Udhampur, Chenani, Ramban, Ramsu, Banihal and Qazigund, with the Health and Medical Education Department tasked with issuing necessary instructions.

Employees have been directed not to occupy government or municipal accommodation without proper allotment. However, they may retain their Jammu accommodation for family use under prescribed conditions. Ration counters will also be established in Srinagar for employees undertaking the move.

A uniform Special Move Travelling Allowance of Rs 25,000 has been sanctioned for employees shifting within the stipulated timeframe, while advance salary for April will be drawn on April 29.

The order further states that leave during the move period will be granted only in exceptional circumstances, though three days of special casual leave will be available to Jammu-based employees opting for it.

The General Administration Department will set up the Summer Secretariat in Srinagar, and all departments have been directed to detach attached staff before April 27. Accommodation arrangements in Srinagar will be made as per past practice. Office timings in Srinagar will be from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm for the Civil Secretariat and departments within its premises, and from 10 am to 4:30 pm for offices outside, observing a six-day work week.

The move marks the continuation of the Darbar Move practice, which was revived after a four-year hiatus by the NC-led government in November 2025. The tradition, suspended in 2021 by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration citing high costs of biannual shifting, was restored following a decision by the Omar Abdullah-led government, in line with its electoral promise and subsequent approval by the Lieutenant Governor. The Darbar Move dates back to 1872, when Maharaja Ranbir Singh initiated the practice of shifting the royal court between Srinagar and Jammu to counter extreme weather conditions in both regions.