 Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 16: In a major policy decision, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announced the revival of the centuries-old Darbar Move — the biannual transfer of the Union Territory’s seat of governance between Jammu and Srinagar.
The 147-year-old practice, discontinued in 2021 by then Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as part of administrative reforms and cost-cutting measures, is being reinstated following formal approval by the Cabinet.
“The Cabinet has given the nod for the revival of the Darbar Move,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters in Jammu. “The proposal was forwarded to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who has approved it,” he said.
The National Conference (NC)-led government had recommended the restoration of the Darbar Move in September this year, fulfilling one of its major election promises. The decision, Omar said, reflects the government’s commitment to preserving J&K’s administrative balance and historical legacy.
The Darbar Move was introduced in 1872 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh, the second Dogra ruler of the erstwhile princely state, to alternate the capital between Jammu in winter and Srinagar in summer. The practice aimed to ensure governance accessibility and equitable development across both regions.
While the previous administration under LG Manoj Sinha had scrapped the practice to save an estimated ₹200 crore annually and facilitate digital governance, proponents have long argued that the Darbar Move fosters regional harmony and sustains the economies of both capitals.
Business leaders and traders from both Jammu and Srinagar have welcomed the government’s decision, citing the Move’s economic and social benefits. “When the Darbar shifted to Jammu in winter, thousands of Kashmir-based employees and their families brought life to the markets here,” said a local trader. “We are hopeful that the old vibrancy will return with its revival.”
Traditionally, over 10,000 government employees, along with files and equipment, were transported twice a year between the two capitals. The Civil Secretariat and all government departments functioned from Srinagar between May and October, and from Jammu during the winter months — symbolizing administrative unity between the two regions.
The reinstatement of the Darbar Move marks the return of a time-honoured practice that, according to the Chief Minister, reflects both heritage and harmony — ensuring the government’s physical presence and emotional connect with people in both parts of Jammu and Kashmir. |
