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- Recently, for the first time in 148 years, the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) administration has decided to halt the bi-annual shifting of the capital, called ‘Darbar move’ due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
- From May to October, governmental offices are housed in the summer capital of J&K, Srinagar, and the other six months in its winter capital, Jammu.
- Durbar Move acts as a bridge between two diverse cultures of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region.
- The tradition was started during Dogra ruler Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1872.
- Ranbir Singh was Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir from 1856 to1885.
- He was the third son of Gulab Singh, the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir state.
- Hundreds of trucks are usually plied to carry furniture, office files, computers, and other records to the capital. Over the years, there have been voices raised against the century-old practice which involves heavy funding towards ensuring the smooth conduct of the move.
- A mass exodus of around one lakh government employees that puts an additional burden of Rs.5 crore on the state exchequer today once again the Government of Jammu & Kashmir went through their annual ritual known as the “Darbar Move”.
- Former J&K chief minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah had criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government’s order of keeping the ‘Move’ offices functional in both regions of the Union territory, saying it would create confusion among the people.
- However, the COVID-19 has halted this practice and the shifting of the capital may not take place in May this year. “Employees of the Kashmir Division, who are required to move to Srinagar on account of Darbar Move on April 25-26 will be provided transport facility,” said the order. However, no Jammu-based employees will travel to Kashmir this summer.
- The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday ordered the formal opening of the annual Darbar Move offices in summer capital Srinagar on May 4 but employees shall work on “as is where is” basis.
- The Civil Secretariat Treasury and J&K Bank Moving Branch at Civil Secretariat shall be functional at both the places within the Civil Secretariat at Jammu and Srinagar. The Finance Department shall put in place a suitable mechanism for the purpose
- The order said that the dispensary of the Civil Secretariat shall remain functional at both the places within the Civil Secretariat.
- The office timing of Civil Secretariat at Jammu and Srinagar shall be from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and for offices of all Heads of the Departments located outside the Civil Secretariat and observing six days a week shall be 10 am to 4:30 pm, the order said.
- “The above arrangement shall be reviewed after assessing the extent and spread of Covid-19 after 15 June 2020,”
- In 1987, former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah tried to stop this practice when he issued orders to keep the secretariat in Srinagar open throughout the year. The decision led to an agitation in Jammu, which was spearheaded by Jammu Bar Association. Later several political parties joined the agitation forcing Abdullah to rescind the decision within a month.
Petition challenges move in HC
- Following this, however, a plea was filed in the high court with the petitioners contending that the government decision required a serious judicial review.
- The high court has now sought details of the last four Darbar Moves in 2018 and 2019, including security arrangements made for the process, the expenditure incurred on transportation and accommodation of government employees and financial benefits in the form of move allowance given to employees.
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