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Omar Abdullah reviews guard of honour in Jammu (Img: Dynamite News)
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Secretariat formally reopened in Jammu on Monday following the annual Darbar Move, marking the return of the administration to the winter capital.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was accorded a guard of honour on his arrival at the Secretariat. After reviewing the parade, he interacted with officers and other staff members.
Over 100 government offices begin functioning in Jammu
Officials said more than 100 government offices had started functioning in Jammu following the relocation. The Chief Minister's Secretariat and 40 other departments have shifted completely, while around 50 offices will operate in camp mode.
As part of the annual exercise, departments working five days a week closed their Srinagar offices on October 30, while those following a six-day schedule shut down on October 31. The second batch of officials, carrying official documents, reached Jammu on Sunday.
The Civil Secretariat will function from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm during the winter months.
While the administrative headquarters has shifted to Jammu, arrangements have also been made to ensure that people in the Kashmir Valley continue to have access to government services.
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A separate winter secretariat has been established in Srinagar to facilitate public access and ensure that government work continues without interruption in the Valley.
This is the second consecutive year that the Darbar Move has taken place since the elected government restored the practice in November 2025.
The Darbar Move is a nearly 150-year-old administrative tradition introduced by the Dogra rulers in 1872. Under the practice, the government would shift its headquarters between Srinagar and Jammu according to seasonal changes, with Srinagar serving as the summer capital and Jammu as the winter capital.
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The practice continued for generations before being discontinued in 2021 by the Lieutenant Governor's administration, citing financial constraints and the growing adoption of e-governance.
With the reopening of the Civil Secretariat, Jammu has once again assumed the role of Jammu and Kashmir's winter capital. However, the arrangements in Srinagar are intended to ensure that the administrative shift does not disrupt public services or government functioning in the Kashmir Valley.
