LG, CM & ministers to resume work from Jammu
Arvind Sharma
JAMMU Tawi, Oct 16: Jammu is set to become the winter capital of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) from November 2, 2026, with the traditional Darbar Move marking the shifting of government offices from Srinagar to Jammu for the winter season.
According to the official sources, the government will begin functioning from the Jammu Civil Secretariat, with the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his Council of Ministers and administrative secretaries overseeing official working from the winter capital.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will also undertake official engagements from Jammu, while the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues will resume their responsibilities from the city of temples.
Necessary arrangements are being made to ensure a smooth transition of government operations.
Orders regarding the Darbar Move are expected to be issued in the coming days. Officials are preparing to shift essential staff and administrative records to facilitate uninterrupted public services in both Jammu and Srinagar.
Under the traditional Darbar Move arrangement, government offices operate from Srinagar during the summer months and shift to Jammu for the winter season.
The practice has historical significance and aims to maintain administrative connectivity with both the capital cities i.e Jammu and Srinagar.
As part of the arrangements, essential staff will be deployed to ensure that government departments continue functioning efficiently.
Ministers and administrative secretaries will also undertake visits to different areas of the Kashmir division as required to review departmental work and address public concerns.
The move is expected to bring increased administrative activity in Jammu, with government employees, officials and visitors arriving in the city.
This is likely to benefit local business, including hotels, transport operators, shopkeepers and other service providers.
The presence of government offices in Jammu will also provide residents with greater opportunities to access administrative services and meet officials regarding their grievances and pending matters.
The government is expected to focus on maintaining coordination between departments during the transition and ensuring that the shifting of offices does not disrupt routine administrative work.
The annual Darbar Move remains an important administrative tradition in Jammu and Kashmir, connecting the two regions through the seasonal functioning of the government.
From November 2, Jammu will once again host the principal government offices for the winter period.