Jammu administration resumes operations following Darbar Move
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the winter session at the Civil Secretariat after the government relocated from Srinagar in two days.
The Jammu and Kashmir government formally resumed administrative operations in Jammu on Monday following the biannual Darbar Move, according to the Deccan Chronicle. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the winter session at the Civil Secretariat, where he received a ceremonial Guard of Honour from a J&K Police contingent.
Abdullah, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and other officials, inspected the parade before starting official work. The administration completed the transition from Srinagar in two days, whereas previous shifts typically took more than a week.
More than 100 government offices have moved to Jammu for the six-month winter period. The Chief Minister's Secretariat and approximately 40 key departments have relocated fully, while nearly 50 other offices will operate under a camp-office arrangement.
Under current guidelines, camp offices will function with a maximum of ten officials or up to 33 per cent of sanctioned staff. Abdullah is expected to meet with his cabinet and senior officials soon to evaluate how departments are performing and how policies are being implemented.
The Darbar Move was suspended in June 2021 by the administration under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who cited an annual cost of around Rs 200 crore and the rise of e-governance. The practice was restored last year following an announcement by Abdullah on October 15.
The tradition dates back to 1872 under Maharaja Ranbir Singh. It was originally designed to move the government between the two capitals to avoid extreme weather conditions.