Omar Abdullah's Government Reopens Civil Secretariat in Jammu for Winter

The Jammu and Kashmir government began its winter innings in Jammu on Monday, as the Civil Secretariat reopened under the Darbar Move. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his ministers and senior officers resumed official work from the winter capital.

Abdullah received a Guard of Honour from the J&K Police on arrival and inspected the parade. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet ministers, Acting Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar, the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, and other senior civil and police officers were present. He then went straight to his office to begin work.

For readers new to the term, the Darbar Move is a seasonal shift of the government between Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter, a practice that goes back to the Dogra era. It was discontinued in 2021, when the administration moved to year-round functioning from both Secretariats, backed by electronic office procedures. The Omar Abdullah-led government restored the tradition in 2025, making this the second consecutive winter under the revived system.

The move covers ministers, senior bureaucrats and employees under the Darbar Move arrangements, while designated offices continue to operate in Srinagar. It requires accommodation, office infrastructure and records to be ready in Jammu, and departments covered by the move resumed administrative coordination and processing of government business on the day.

The timing adds a political layer. The reopening follows a recent Cabinet reshuffle, so newly inducted ministers and those with fresh portfolios are settling into their Jammu chambers. Later in the day, the Chief Minister chaired a meeting of ministers and senior officials to review priorities for the winter months, and toured the Secretariat's rooms and sections, meeting employees and checking arrangements.

Why it matters: for Jammu's traders, service providers and local economy, the seasonal arrival of the administration has long meant a pick-up in activity, and the revival keeps that rhythm going. For governance, the winter months now offer a test of how smoothly a hybrid, digitally supported Darbar Move can deliver decisions.

Source: Rising Kashmir

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