What is the Darbar Move in Jammu and Kashmir? All about the 150-year-old practice

The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced the annual shifting of capital from Srinagar to Jammu, continuing the practice of the historic Darbar Move for the second consecutive year after it was stopped in 2021.

Here’s a look at what is the 150-year-old tradition of Darbar Move, why was it stopped by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and later resumed in 2025.

What is Darbar Move in J&K?

Darbar Move is an over 150-year-old Dogra-era practice of shifting the State capital biannually. As per the practice, the State’s civil secretariat shuttles between the summer capital, Srinagar, and the winter capital, Jammu.

The practice of shuttling top offices, including those of the Governor, the Chief Minister, his ministerial colleagues, bureaucrats and police officers was started by the Dogra Maharajas to avoid the summer heat of Jammu and the bitter winter cold in the Valley.

After 1947, when the State acceded to India, the Dogra rule ended abruptly, but the practice of shifting top offices between Jammu and Srinagar did not.

As the practice of shifting offices owes itself to the Dogra tradition and times, it is still known as the ‘Darbar Move’.

The move to the Valley takes place at the end of April each year and, before the onset of winter, the Darbar moves back to Jammu towards the end of October. Around 151 government departments shift offices as part of the Darbar Move, and more than 10,000 employees change their locations.

This year, the J&K government will move to winter capital Jammu in the first week of November.

A PTI report, which cited the government order, noted that the offices observing five days’ week shall close at Srinagar on October 30, 2026 (Friday) after office hours, and the offices observing six days’ week shall close on October 31, 2026 (Saturday) after office hours.

All the offices are scheduled to reopen in Jammu on November 2.

Why was Darbar Move halted

The Darbar Move was halted by J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha in June 2021, citing the administration’s transition to e-office, which, he said, would save around ₹200 crore annually.

Also read: 149-year-old tradition of capital shifting in Jammu and Kashmir concludes

The decision drew sharp criticism from various quarters, including Jammu’s business community, which termed the move a blow to trade and the traditional bond between the two regions. They had been pressing for the revival of the practice ever since.

Earlier in May 2020, the J&K High Court suggested that the ‘Darbar Move’ “results in wastage of tremendous amount of time, efforts, and energy on inefficient and unnecessary activity. “It’s taxing for security forces too. It nurtures inefficiency and leads to lack of governance,” the court observed.

When Darbar Move was resumed after 4 years

The Darbar Move was restored by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in 2025, a year after he assumed office.

The historic practice resumed on November 3, 2025, marking the return of government offices to the winter capital after a four-year hiatus. By reviving the centuries-old tradition, the Chief Minister fulfilled a key election promise and was accorded a grand welcome in Jammu.