As summer sets in, the Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to start functioning from Srinagar for the next six months. For the last six months, however, the government was working from its winter capital Jammu, as part of the pre-independence bi-annual ‘Darbar Move’ practice.
Darbar Move is a century-old practice in which the government functions for six months each in the two capitals of the State, Srinagar and Jammu. The practice was reportedly started in the late 19th century by Ranbir Singh, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, who used to shift his capital between Srinagar in the summer and Jammu in the winter to escape extreme weather conditions in these places.
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The government will function in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, till late October and then move to Jammu, the winter capital, in the first week of November. Security measures and other arrangements have been made to ensure smooth functioning of the offices in Kashmir Valley, which has witnessed a spurt in militant activities in the last few months.
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Ahead of the Darbar Move, Srinagar usually receives a facelift every year. Roads around and leading to the Civil Secretariat, the seat of the government, are being renovated now. Besides, the government offices and quarters have been renovated and the streetlights restored, officials said.
While most of the Kashmir-based government employees associated with the Civil Secretariat and other departments arrived in the Valley on April 29 and 30, Jammu-based employees have started arriving in Srinagar already, they said. The Jammu and Kashmir High court also moves from Jammu to Srinagar in summers and vice versa in winters.
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.