Jammu and Kashmir Government announces the annual Darbar Move, with designated offices set to reopen in Jammu on November 2. (Img: Dynamite News)
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated preparations for its annual Darbar Move, a long-standing administrative practice under which designated government offices shift from Srinagar, the summer capital, to Jammu, the winter capital. The relocation schedule, issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) through Government Order No. 1664-JK(GAD) of 2026 on October 19, outlines the arrangements for the seasonal transition and measures to maintain uninterrupted public services across both regions.
Under the prescribed schedule, offices following a five-day working week will close in Srinagar after office hours on October 30, while those observing a six-day working week will conclude operations on October 31. The movement of employees and administrative establishments will take place according to the government-approved schedule, with certain departments relocating in full and others operating through a limited-staff arrangement.
The government order distinguishes between departments required to move their entire operations to Jammu and those designated to function in camp mode. Under the latter arrangement, departments will deploy a limited number of employees to maintain essential administrative functions during the winter season.
Offices operating in camp mode will ordinarily take 33 per cent of their total staff strength or 10 officials, whichever is lower, unless the order specifies a different arrangement. The Civil Secretariat, including the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and other designated government offices, will form part of the seasonal administrative transition.
The staffing framework is intended to facilitate the relocation of key government functions while maintaining an administrative presence in Srinagar. The deployment of personnel will remain subject to the prescribed arrangements and approvals from the competent authorities.
A special move travel allowance of Rs 25,000 has been prescribed for every eligible employee participating in the Darbar Move. Employees who fail to undertake the relocation within the stipulated period will not qualify for the allowance, in accordance with the conditions specified in the government order.
The administration has also provided for advance salary payments to eligible non-gazetted employees who have moved to Jammu, with subsequent recovery of the advances through instalments. The October salaries of employees working in offices designated for relocation are scheduled to be drawn on October 29.
The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has been directed to deploy buses in good operating condition for transporting employees from Srinagar to Jammu on October 31 and November 1. Advance ticket booking will begin on October 27 at the Civil Secretariat and the corporation’s main booking counters.
To minimise travel disruptions, JKRTC has been instructed to ensure that each convoy is supported by a crane, two empty buses and mobile workshop facilities to address potential vehicle breakdowns. The Jammu and Kashmir Police will provide security escorts to employee convoys and facilitate their passage through the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel.
The Health and Medical Education Department has been directed to establish medical assistance facilities at Qazigund, Banihal, Ramsu, Ramban, Chenani, Udhampur and Jhajjar Kotli during the relocation period. The facilities will provide medical support along the employee travel corridor, strengthening emergency preparedness during the movement of personnel.
Although the principal offices will shift to Jammu, a Winter Secretariat will operate at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to ensure the continued availability of administrative services in Kashmir during the winter months.
Departments have been directed to identify one gazetted officer and four non-gazetted officials each for retention at the Srinagar Secretariat, subject to prior approval from the competent authority.
The Estates Department will facilitate accommodation for employees relocating to Jammu under the established allotment procedure. Employees will be required to comply with the applicable accommodation allocation rules.
Following the reopening of offices on November 2, the Civil Secretariat and Heads of Departments located within its premises will function from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Heads of Departments relocating to Jammu but operating outside the Civil Secretariat and observing a six-day working week will function from 10 am to 4:30 pm, as specified in the government order.
The Darbar Move is a distinctive administrative tradition in Jammu and Kashmir, involving the seasonal relocation of designated government offices between Srinagar and Jammu. Srinagar serves as the summer capital, while Jammu functions as the winter capital under this arrangement.
The exercise involves coordinated planning across government departments responsible for transportation, police security, healthcare, accommodation and general administration. The latest order establishes the schedule for the 2026–27 winter transition, with the November 2 reopening in Jammu and a Winter Secretariat in Srinagar intended to maintain administrative continuity across the Union Territory.
