Jammu and Kashmir Civil Secretariat Reopens in Srinagar as Darbar Move Resumes

The Civil Secretariat of Jammu and Kashmir, the seat of the Union Territory’s administration, reopened in Srinagar on Monday as part of the bi-annual ‘Darbar Move’ tradition.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour as government offices resumed operations in the summer capital, a week after shifting from Jammu.

Officials said the move marks the continuation of governance practices in the region, with the entire Secretariat relocating to Srinagar for the summer months. The Chief Minister’s Office described the development as a restoration of administrative continuity after several years.

The ‘Darbar Move’ is a historic practice under which the Jammu and Kashmir government functions from Jammu during winter and shifts to Srinagar in summer. The tradition dates back to 1872 when Maharaja Gulab Singh initiated it to avoid extreme weather conditions in different regions.

The system continued after Independence to ensure balanced governance and administrative accessibility for both Jammu and Kashmir regions.

However, the practice was discontinued in 2021 during Lieutenant Governor’s rule and was later revived in 2025 after Omar Abdullah assumed office.

Ahead of the Secretariat’s reopening, Srinagar witnessed infrastructure upgrades, including road repairs, repainting, and improvement of public spaces to accommodate the seasonal shift of government offices.

The Darbar Move remains a significant administrative and cultural tradition in Jammu and Kashmir, symbolising the dual-capital governance model of the Union Territory.a