Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday walked from his official residence to the Civil Secretariat, marking the revival of the biannual ‘Darbar Move’ after a four-year hiatus.
As Abdullah made his way through Residency Road and Raghunath Bazar, he was greeted with a grand welcome by traders and members of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who hailed his decision to restore the age-old tradition suspended in 2021.
The ‘Darbar Move’, initiated nearly 150 years ago by the Dogra rulers, involves the seasonal shifting of the J&K government offices between Srinagar and Jammu. The Civil Secretariat and other move offices closed in Srinagar on October 30–31 and resumed operations in Jammu, the winter capital, on Monday for the next six months.
The practice was discontinued in June 2021 by then Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, citing the government’s complete transition to e-office to save around ₹200 crore annually. The decision, however, faced widespread criticism, especially from Jammu’s business community, which viewed it as a blow to trade and regional unity.
Fulfilling his election promise, Abdullah announced the revival of the move on October 16, earning praise from traders and locals alike.
Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Minister Javed Rana, Abdullah began his walk at around 9 am, covering several kilometres to reach the Civil Secretariat. Along the route, jubilant traders garlanded him, showered flower petals, and distributed sweets amid drumbeats and cheers.
The chief minister’s security team faced challenges managing the large and enthusiastic crowd that gathered to greet him. JCCI President Arun Gupta was among the first to extend his greetings to the CM on the occasion.
