Jammu, November 2, 2025 — After a four-year hiatus, the Darbar Move offices are set to reopen in Jammu tomorrow, marking the return of the bi-annual administrative shift. The Civil Secretariat will function from Jammu for the winter session until the end of April.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by Ministers, senior civil officers, and legislative staff, arrived in Jammu this evening. Additional officials are expected to join by tomorrow morning to resume duties.
Before the practice was halted in 2021 by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, Darbar Move officials were given a 10-day transition period to shift records between Srinagar and Jammu. With the adoption of the e-file system, the transition now takes only one or two days, and only confidential files and computers were transported this time.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah traveled via the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and made a customary stop at Peerah in Batote to enjoy the local delicacy, rajma-chawal with desi ghee. He shared a photo of the meal on X, writing, “A half marathon deserves a plate of rajma chawal with liberal quantities of ghee at Peerah.” Earlier in the day, he had participated in a half marathon in Srinagar.
Omar is expected to arrive at the Civil Secretariat at 10 AM, where he will be welcomed by staff. He will meet Cabinet colleagues and senior officials at 10:30 AM to review development initiatives and interact with employees.
As per orders from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, departments under the Home Ministry will operate simultaneously from both Srinagar and Jammu. Senior police officials will remain in Srinagar until November 5, when Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is scheduled to assess the security situation.
Due to the long pause in the Darbar Move, many rooms in Jammu had been occupied by local staff. Officers have been working overnight to reassign office spaces and accommodations for the incoming officials, though full adjustments may take a few days.
To facilitate smooth travel, Traffic Police had arranged down convoys on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway for two days, ensuring minimal disruption for officials commuting by road.
Local traders in Jammu have welcomed the revival of the Darbar Move, citing economic losses during its suspension. The practice, which dates back to 1872 under Maharaja Ranbir Singh, was originally introduced to manage seasonal extremes between Srinagar and Jammu.
The National Conference had pledged to restore the Darbar Move in its election manifesto and fulfilled the promise within a year. The decision by Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet was approved by the Lieutenant Governor, reinstating the historic administrative tradition.
The budget session of the Legislature is also scheduled to be held in Jammu during March–April next year.
