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Jammu, Nov 3 (IANS) ‘Darbar Move’ offices reopened on Monday after four years as 86 top offices of the Jammu and Kashmir government started functioning from the winter capital Jammu.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reached the Civil Secretariat from his official residence in the Wazarat Road area of the city, where people welcomed him with flowers and joy as he resumed the over 150-year-old practice of shuttling the Civil Secretariat between Srinagar and Jammu on a six-monthly basis.
The royal tradition was started by the Dogra Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir, who shifted the seat of their rule between Jammu and Srinagar due to climatic considerations.
As the valley became cool by the end of October every year, the ‘Durbar’ (Royal Court) would move to the warmer climate of Jammu, and as the weather of Jammu became warmer by the end of April, the royal court would move back to the warmer climate of Srinagar.
This practice continued even after independence in 1947 and according to this practice, Jammu and Kashmir had two capitals – Winter Jammu and Summer Kashmir. The creation of the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar also came to be seen as a sign of regional equality between the two regions.
This practice was discontinued by the Lieutenant Governor in 2021 as digitization of official records and use of e-governance had made moving trucks of files and records between Srinagar and Jammu cumbersome and unnecessary.
Traders and other businessmen have welcomed the decision taken by the Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah had said that the restoration of Darbar Move is his Diwali gift to the people of Jammu.
The Chief Minister was given a ceremonial guard of honor at the Civil Secretariat here, but the traditional press conference held every time the office reopens in Jammu was canceled due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in Nagrota Assembly constituency, where by-elections are scheduled on November 11.
–IANS
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