Jammu, Oct 16, KDC: In a landmark decision marking the return of one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most symbolic administrative traditions, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announced the revival of the century-and-a-half-old Darbar Move, the bi-annual shifting of the Union Territory’s capital between Jammu and Srinagar.
The practice, which had been suspended for over four years by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, will now resume in its traditional form, restoring a long-standing symbol of administrative unity between the two regions.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Omar Abdullah said the Cabinet had earlier approved the proposal and sent it to the Lieutenant Governor for concurrence. “The file was sent to the Lieutenant Governor and has been approved. The government is reviving the practice soon,” the Chief Minister said, terming the move as “a step toward restoring administrative balance and historical continuity.”
The Cabinet had recommended the return to a full-fledged Darbar Move in September this year, citing its significance in ensuring accessibility and inclusiveness in governance.
The Darbar Move was first introduced in 1872 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh — the successor of Maharaja Gulab Singh, to facilitate governance and maintain close contact with both Jammu and Kashmir regions during different seasons. For over a century, the civil secretariat and government offices would shift to Srinagar during the summer and return to Jammu in the winter.
The practice was, however, halted in 2021 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, citing logistical challenges and digital governance advancements as reasons to discontinue the seasonal migration of offices. (KDC)
