Copyright thehindubusinessline
After a four-year gap, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday restored the age-old ‘Darbar Move’ tradition, wherein government offices relocate shift between Srinagar and Jammu with the change of seasons. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah walked from his official residence to his office at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to mark the occasion. The practice was discontinued and officially scrapped in June 2021 by the administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Sinha had argued that the introduction of an e-office system had made the exercise redundant. He had also calculated that the move would save the exchequer around ₹200 crore annually. Trade setback The purported savings notwithstanding, the decision had proved a severe setback for Jammu’s traders, who relied heavily on the economic activity generated by the government’s seasonal presence. Each winter, the Darbar Move drew thousands of government employees and their families from the Valley to Jammu, providing a major boost to local markets, hotels, and transport services. Local businesses saw a sharp downturn in sales as the flow of employees and visitors from Kashmir dwindled over the last four years. “Retailers and hotel owners were hit the hardest,” said Rakesh Gupta, a prominent businessman. “Earlier, even government departments would book hotels to accommodate employees. That source of income vanished overnight,” he added. As Omar Abdullah walked through Residency Road and Raghunath Bazar on Monday, traders and shopkeepers greeted him with drumbeats and garlands. Several business associations, including the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, accorded him a warm welcome and lauded his decision to revive the 150-year-old tradition. “The return of the Darbar Move will rejuvenate trade across sectors — from retail and hospitality to transport,” said Rajesh Mahajan, a trader. “Over the last four years, we saw a downturn in business. The arrival of thousands of will once again bring vibrancy to the city,” he added. Officials said the Civil Secretariat and other key departments will now function from Jammu until late April before shifting back to Srinagar for the summer session, restoring the pattern that had defined governance in the region for decades. By choosing to walk to the Secretariat instead of using a motorcade, Omar Abdullah wanted to make a symbolic statement about reconnecting governance with the people, said a senior National Conference leader. “The Darbar Move is not merely about shifting offices; it’s about maintaining the spirit of togetherness between the two regions,” he added. Published on November 3, 2025
