Jammu, Oct 20: Setting bi-annual ‘Darbar Move’ process in motion, the J&K government has ordered the closure of its offices, observing five days’ week on October 30 and those observing six days’ week on October 31, 2026, at Srinagar – the summer capital, for the next six months.
All offices, over 100 in number, will reopen at Jammu – the winter capital, on November 2, 2026.
For Civil Secretariat and Heads of Departments located within the Civil Secretariat premises, the office timings on the re-opening of offices at Jammu will be 9.30 am to 5.30 pm while for all moving Heads of Departments located outside the Civil Secretariat and observing six days a week, the office timings will be 10 am to 4.30 pm.
The General Administration Department, however, will establish a winter secretariat at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar.
This will be the second year in succession of “Darbar Move” to Jammu after the bi-annual practice, after a hiatus of four years, was resumed by the elected J&K government in November, 2025 in the Union Territory set up in consonance with its electoral promise.
Darbar Move practice, initiated around 150 years ago by Dogra Maharaja with strategic and climatic considerations, was scrapped by the administration of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in 2021 with the assertion that it would save Rs 200 Cr of the state exchequer.
As per an order, issued by General Administration Department (GAD) Commissioner Secretary M Raju, all departments of the Civil Secretariat, including the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and 40 other offices will move to Jammu “in full” and 50 other specified offices will move “in camp” for winter session, 2026-27.
The offices observing five days’ week will close at Srinagar on October, 2026 (Friday) after office hours, and the offices observing six days’ week will close on October 31, 2026 (Saturday) after office hours.
The offices moving in camp will carry only 33 percent of the staff strength in that particular office, or 10 officials, whichever is minimum, or otherwise as specifically indicated.
It has been specified that no leave will be admissible in combination or continuation of move days except under very exceptional circumstances. The concerned Administrative Secretaries will sanction leave, whatever due, under very exceptional circumstances only.
However, five days’ special casual leave will be allowed to Kashmir-based move employees who wish to avail the same, without linking the grant of such leave to the availability or otherwise of accommodation at Jammu.
EMPLOYEES TO MOVE IN OFFICIAL CONVOY ON OCT 31, Nov 1
Official “Move” of employees from Srinagar to Jammu will begin on October 31 and November 1.
J&K Police will escort the convoy carrying employees all along the route up to their respective destinations. They will also make sure that the “move convoy” is given precedence in crossing the Banihal Qazigund tunnel and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee tunnel. Director General of Police, J&K has been directed to issue necessary guidelines to the field agencies accordingly.
To facilitate smooth movement of employees, JKRTC has been asked to make available sufficient numbers of buses in good condition for transportation of employees for two specified days (October 31, November 1, 2026). The booking of buses, as per the order, will be for destinations of the employees, wherever feasible. Tickets will be issued by the JKRTC in advance i.e., from October 27, 2026, both from the Civil Secretariat and from the main booking counters of JKRTC.
JKRTC has been asked to ensure that one crane and two empty buses accompany each convoy on the respective days so that employees do not face inconvenience due to break-down of buses on the way. Mobile workshops will also accompany the convoy.
The Health and Medical Education Department will make arrangements for medical aid facilities at Qazigund, Banihal, Ramsu, Ramban, Chenani, Udhampur and Jhajjar Kotli on the days when the employees travel from Srinagar to Jammu.
The Administrative Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department will issue necessary instructions on this behalf to the Directorates of Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, accordingly.
Amid a set of instructions, the GAD Commissioner Secretary has specified that no moving employee will occupy any government, EP, municipal or residential accommodation except under proper allotment order. However, the employees can retain government accommodation allotted to them at Srinagar for bonafide use of their families under intimation to the Estates Department, on approved terms and conditions.
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has been directed to ensure that ration counters are set up at appropriate locations around residential colonies of move employees at Jammu, so as to ensure adequate supply of ration.
SPECIAL MOVE ALLOWANCES FOR EMPLOYEES
Special Move Travel Allowance (TA) will be paid at the uniform rate of Rs 25,000 per move employee. Special Move TA will not, however, be payable to such employees who do not move before or within the prescribed date. Advance pay will also be authorised in favour of such of non-gazetted moving employees who may apply for the same, which will be recoverable in instalments as per rules.
It has been specified that salary for the month of October-2026, for all the employees working in move offices, will be drawn on October 29, 2026 (Thursday).
All Administrative Secretaries have been asked to furnish details of employees (1 gazetted and 4 non-gazetted) who will be retained at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar.
No officer or official will be retained by any Department without the prior approval of competent authority.
“While retaining one gazetted officer and four non-gazetted officials at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, the departments will give preference to female employees and those with serious medical conditions, wherever feasible. All departments shall identify one room each at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar and submit the requisite information to the General Administration Department (GAD) for issuance of appropriate orders regarding its allotment for the retained employees of the department during the winter session,” it has been ordered.
All the Administrative departments have been asked to detach the staff, if any, attached by them from the subordinate offices of Kashmir division by or before October 27, 2026. The SSP (Security), Civil Secretariat will withdraw temporary identity cards from the attached staff and submit a report to the General Administration Department before the closure of offices in Srinagar.
The Estates department has been asked to provide accommodation to the officers or officials, moving with Darbar Move, as per past practice.
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