Chief Minister Omar Abdullah receives guard of honour as offices move to Jammu
The Civil Secretariat and other government offices resumed functioning in the winter capital on Monday following the resumption of the Darbar Move.
The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Secretariat and other key government offices resumed functioning in Jammu on Monday, according to reports from Greater Kashmir and The Hawk. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah arrived at the Civil Secretariat this morning, where he received a guard of honour from a contingent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The resumption of the biannual Darbar Move was an electoral promise made by the National Conference (NC) in its 2024 manifesto. The practice, which was discontinued in 2021, was revived in 2025 after the elected government took office.
The movement involves shifting the offices of the Chief Minister, ministers, and senior bureaucrats, including the chief secretary and commissioners, between the two capitals. The offices closed in the summer capital, Srinagar, on October 30.
Other departments that move to Jammu for the winter include the Director General of Police (DGP), the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and headquarters for crime, traffic, home guards, fire, and essential services. The offices of the Lt Governor and the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court also shift to Jammu.
The tradition of shuttling offices between Srinagar and Jammu was started by the Dogra Maharajas and has existed for nearly 160 years. While offices operate from Srinagar from May to October, they move to Jammu during the winter months.
To manage public grievances and ensure the supply of essential goods, a senior bureaucrat oversees a winter secretariat in Srinagar on a rotational basis.