JAMMU, Nov 2: The first batch of employees and the main official convoy carrying key records from the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar reached Jammu on Saturday, marking the commencement of the winter Darbar period.
Offices operating on a six-day work schedule in Srinagar closed after duty hours on Saturday. The remaining Move employees are scheduled to travel to Jammu on Sunday in special buses arranged by the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC).
All offices, except subordinate units of the Home Department under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, will reopen in Jammu on November 3, signaling the resumption of the traditional bi-annual practice popularly known as the Darbar Move.
As per tradition, the Estates Department, following directions from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on October 24, has arranged a special dinner for Move employees on November 2. The venue selection and menu remain unchanged from the previous Darbar Move.
The arrival of the Darbar has brought a wave of optimism to markets in old Jammu city. Hoteliers, lodge owners, and guest house operators are particularly enthusiastic as government employees return after a gap of four years. The Estates Department has made comprehensive accommodation arrangements, including government quarters and nearly 50 hired hotels and lodges within Jammu municipal limits.
Accommodation allotments are valid from November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, under specific terms and conditions, including an undertaking that the employee or spouse does not own a house in Jammu city. Allottees must take possession by November 15, or the allotment will be cancelled.
Around 200 officers and officials from various departments will remain stationed at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, under a temporary retention order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD). Except for the offices of these officials, all other rooms will be locked and sealed by the Civil Secretariat Security Wing.
Ahead of the Darbar Move, District Magistrate Jammu, Dr. Rakesh Minhas, has issued an order under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), directing landlords, property owners, business establishments, and contractors to submit details of tenants, workers, and domestic help to the local police within seven days. Existing tenants must also be registered by November 6, failing which legal action will follow.
The reopening of the Darbar in Jammu marks the continuation of a long-standing administrative tradition, ensuring governance functions smoothly during the winter months in the Union Territory.
