‘Darbar Move’ Returns in Jammu & Kashmir | 21 Oct 2025

Source: IE 

After a four-year break, the Darbar Move, the 150-year-old biannual transfer of Jammu and Kashmir’s Civil Secretariat and government offices between Srinagar (summer capital) and Jammu (winter capital), is set to resume this winter.

• Historical and Administrative Significance: It was started in 1872 by Maharaja Gulab Singh (1st Dogra ruler of erstwhile J&K State) to bring administration closer to the people, addressing the challenges of poor road connectivity between regions. 
  • It continued post-independence, becoming a symbol of regional integration between Jammu and Kashmir. 
• Interruption in Practice: A 2020 J&K High Court ruling observed that there was no “legal justification or Constitutional basis” for the Darbar Move. 
  • In 2021, LG’s administration had taken the decision to end the practice of Darbar Move and projected it would save the government Rs 200 crore every year. 
• Implications: Revival of the traditional “Darbar Move” can reinforce regional parity in post-Article 370 governance and boosts local economies in host cities during each move. 
  • However, challenges such as logistical strain, disruption of administrative continuity, and environmental and security concerns persist. 
• About Maharaja Gulab Singh: He founded the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in 1846, was a direct descendant of the Jammu ruling family, and part of the renowned Dogra Trio alongside his brothers Dhian Singh and Suchet Singh.  
  • He joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court in Lahore and became a prominent military commander.