154‑year‑old tradition of Durbar Move continues; Govt offices to close in Srinagar on Oct 30

Sajid Raina

Srinagar, Oct 20: Continuing the 154‑year‑old tradition of the Durbar Move, the Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday announced that the Civil Secretariat and other key offices will close in Srinagar on October 30 and reopen in Jammu on November 2.

In an order, the General Administration Department (GAD) announced that offices observing a five‑day week will close in Srinagar on October 30, while those observing a six‑day week will close on October 31. Both sets of offices will reopen in Jammu on November 2.

According to details, the Civil Secretariat- which houses the offices of the J&K Chief Minister, Ministers, top bureaucrats, and 40 other departments -will move in full, while 50 offices will move in camp.

The offices moving in camp shall carry only 33% of the staff strength of that particular office, or 10 officials, whichever is minimum, unless otherwise specifically indicated, the GAD order reads.

The GAD further directed the Jammu & Kashmir Road Transport Corporation to make available a sufficient number of buses in good condition for the transportation of employees on October 31 and November 1.

According to the GAD, a special Move T.A. of Rs 25000 shall be paid to each employee. “Special Move T.A. shall not, however, be payable to such employees who do not move before or within the prescribed date,” the order reads.

Started in 1872 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh, the Durbar Move is the biannual shifting of the Civil Secretariat and other key government offices between Srinagar (summer capital) and Jammu (winter capital). The practice was abolished in 2021 but restored in 2025—(KNO)