news details |
|
|
| Futile Exercise | | |
The High Court stating that the annual Durbar Move in Jammu and Kashmir is an exercise in futility and it is not workable anymore has brought helmsmen at such point where they he will have to take a call about whether to continue with the practice or not.
The debate over calling off this 172-year old tradition which was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh has been hogging the headlines for the past many months. Many people are of the opinion that Durbar Move should be down away with as it puts extra burden on the exchequer and shifting official records from Jammu to Srinagar and vice-versa every six months becomes a cumbersome process.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 in March this year the J&K Government decided not to shift Civil Secretariat from Jammu to Srinagar. The secretariat in Srinagar opened partially earlier this week and the employees were asked to work from the places where they are stationed.
Majority of the people are in favour of turning Jammu into a permanent capital of Jammu and Kashmir as the city of temples is more accessible than Srinagar. The High Court order has provided Jammu and Kashmir administration with a golden opportunity to end this outdated practice once for all. Both the secretariats can remain functional with government’s top brass remaining available in both the cities.
When National Conference shared power with Congress between 2008 to 2014, the then Chief Minister of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, had mooted the idea of doing away with this practice but after sometime he backed off as the old horses within his party opposed the idea.
Now, the field is open for the Central Government as the Kashmir centric leaders, who could have beaten their chests and tried to stir a row have been cut to size. The separatists, who used to poke their nose in every affair have lost their address and they don’t stand anywhere today. So there are not many people left who will oppose this decision.
Having Civil Secretariat in Srinagar is a big disadvantage due to connectivity problems. Prior to August 5, 2019, the Kashmir centric leaders used to claim that Jammu becomes far for the people of Ladakh. Now, Ladakh is no more a part of J&K so that reason has become invalid. Jammu has all the prerequisites which the capital requires. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
