Archive · 2 Nov 2025
J&K Revives 150-Year-Old Capital-Shifting Tradition After 4-Year Break
Imagine the government in a place called Jammu and Kashmir has two main offices, one for the hot summer in Srinagar and another for the cold winter in Jammu.
For a very long time, they used to pack up all their important papers and move everything from one city to the other twice a year.
This big move was called the 'Darbar Move'.
But a few years ago, the government stopped this move to save money.
However, this hurt the businesses in Jammu and some people felt it wasn't fair to one part of the region.
So, the Chief Minister decided to bring the 'Darbar Move' back.
Now, the government is moving its offices back to Jammu for the winter, and this tradition that started over 150 years ago is happening again.
The 150-year-old Darbar Move tradition, involving the biannual shifting of government offices between Srinagar and Jammu, has been officially restored.
Hundreds of government employees and official records have moved from Srinagar to Jammu as the practice resumes.
The practice was scrapped in 2021 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who cited cost-saving measures and estimated annual savings of Rs 200 crore.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that discontinuing the Darbar Move was an 'injustice to the people of Jammu' and harmed regional balance.
Traders in Jammu had reported significant business losses after the move was stopped and had called for its restoration, viewing it as a symbol of coexistence.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, government employees, hundreds of official records, Maharaja Gulab Singh (originator)
- What
- The 150-year-old biannual tradition of shifting government offices between Srinagar and Jammu, known as the Darbar Move, has been formally restored.
- When
- The tradition was formally restored over the weekend, with offices set to officially resume operations in Jammu on Monday, November 3.
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir, with offices shifting between Srinagar (summer capital) and Jammu (winter capital).
- Why
- The Darbar Move was revived to restore regional balance, address an 'injustice to the people of Jammu' caused by its discontinuation, and to support Jammu's economy which suffered significant business losses after the practice was scrapped in 2021.
Chief Minister's View
Previous Rationale for Discontinuation
Reason for Darbar Move
Chief Minister's View
The Darbar Move was a necessary tradition that restored regional balance and corrected an 'injustice to the people of Jammu' caused by its discontinuation.
Previous Rationale for Discontinuation
The Darbar Move was discontinued in 2021 primarily for cost-cutting measures, with an estimated annual saving of Rs 200 crore.
Impact of Discontinuation
Chief Minister's View
Stopping the practice severely impacted Jammu's economy, leading to significant business losses for traders.
Previous Rationale for Discontinuation
The discontinuation was presented as a measure to save costs, implying that the operational expenses of the Darbar Move were substantial.
- Event
- Revival of the Darbar Move
- Location
- Jammu and Kashmir (Srinagar and Jammu)
- Start Date of Operation
- November 3
- Tradition Origin
- 1872 by Maharaja Gulab Singh
- Previous Discontinuation Date
- 2021
- Estimated Annual Savings from Discontinuation
- Rs 200 crore
