Jammu, November 3, 2025 : Reiterating his government’s commitment to regional unity, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the revival of the age-old ‘Darbar Move’ aims to bridge the emotional and administrative gap between Jammu and Srinagar, stressing that “not everything should be weighed in money.”
The biannual tradition—where the J&K government shifts between the two capitals with the changing seasons—resumed after a four-year gap as the Civil Secretariat began functioning from Jammu on Monday.
“Some people always try to create a wedge between Jammu and Srinagar. We want to remove that distance,” Abdullah said, adding that halting the move in 2021 “weakened the bond” between the regions.
He emphasized that while former LG Manoj Sinha had ended the practice citing ₹200 crore annual savings through e-office transition, “some things are beyond money — they represent sentiment and unity.”
Abdullah, who walked to the Secretariat amid a rousing welcome from traders and citizens, said his decision fulfilled an election promise and brought relief to Jammu’s business community, which had long demanded its return.
“The journey that takes five minutes took an hour today — people poured into the streets to show their love. Jammu suffered the most when the Darbar Move was stopped,” he said.
The CM assured that a special team led by Additional Chief Secretary Shaleen Kabra has been constituted to ensure smooth relocation of staff and facilities.
“Our government is just one year old. Things will keep improving,” he added with optimism.
The ‘Darbar Move’, started nearly 150 years ago by Dogra rulers, once again symbolizes unity, continuity, and shared governance across Jammu and Kashmir.
