Kashmir Impulse Desk
Jammu, Nov 01
Government offices under the traditional Darbar Move will reopen in Jammu on Monday, marking the beginning of the administration’s six-month winter session in the Union Territory.
More than 100 offices are scheduled to resume operations in the winter capital after completing their shift from Srinagar.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is expected to be accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by a Jammu and Kashmir Police contingent at the Civil Secretariat before the offices begin functioning.
He is also scheduled to meet ministers and administrative secretaries to review departmental functioning and assess arrangements following the relocation.
The reopening comes amid political developments following the recent expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet.
The second batch of employees, along with official records, arrived in Jammu on Sunday, according to the schedule.
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat and 40 other offices have shifted to Jammu in full, while 50 specified offices have moved to camp, with limited staff deployment.
Under the arrangements, camp offices will operate with 33 percent of their sanctioned staff strength or 10 officials, whichever is lower, unless otherwise specified.
Offices located within the Civil Secretariat and heads of departments operating from the premises will function from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Other moving heads of departments observing a six-day workweek will operate from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
The General Administration Department has also established a winter secretariat at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
Offices observing a five-day workweek closed in Srinagar on October 30, while those following a six-day schedule closed on October 31.
This is the second consecutive year that the elected Jammu and Kashmir government has continued the Darbar Move after restoring the practice in November 2025.
The approximately 150-year-old arrangement, introduced during Dogra rule, involved shifting the administrative headquarters between Srinagar and Jammu according to the seasons.
The practice was discontinued by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration in 2021, with officials citing annual savings of around Rs 200 crore.
