Srinagar, May 4 — The Civil Secretariat reopened in Srinagar on Monday as the annual Darbar Move resumed, marking the start of the government’s summer functioning in the Valley.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on his arrival at the Secretariat.
Officials said departments have begun operations in Srinagar, with senior officers and staff already shifting from Jammu as part of the biannual practice aimed at ensuring administrative access across regions.
Arrangements for the reopening, including security and logistics, were put in place in advance to ensure smooth functioning of offices, they said.
The Darbar Move, a long-standing administrative practice in Jammu and Kashmir, had earlier been halted by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration in 2021, which instead split offices between Jammu and Srinagar.
The decision had drawn protests from sections of the business community in Jammu, who said the move affected their livelihoods as government employees no longer relocated for six months.
The practice was later restored by the National Conference-led government on October 2025 after it assumed office following the Assembly elections.