Darbar Move: J&K government orders winter office shift to Jammu from November 2

The Jammu and Kashmir government has formally ordered the annual Darbar Move of civil secretariat offices from Srinagar to Jammu for the 2026–27 winter season, with official work scheduled to resume in the winter capital on November 2.

According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, government offices observing a five-day working week will close in Srinagar after office hours on October 30, while six-day week offices will close on October 31. The official convoy movement between the two cities will take place across October 31 and November 1.

Schedules and staff deployment

Under the administrative blueprint, departments classified under Annexure A will move to Jammu in full, while those listed under Annexure B will function in camp mode with limited staff to maintain operational flexibility.

To support moving personnel, the government has fixed a uniform Special Move Travelling Allowance of Rs 25,000 for each relocating employee. Non-gazetted staff are eligible for salary advances, and October salaries for all moving employees will be released early on October 29. Kashmir-based employees will also receive five days of Special Casual Leave.

Robust transport, security, and medical support

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level review meeting in Srinagar to finalize arrangements alongside Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and senior police and civil administration chiefs.

The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation has been tasked with deploying a dedicated fleet of buses starting October 31, backed by mobile workshop units, breakdown cranes, and relief vehicles. J&K Police will escort the convoys along the national highway, with priority clearance ensured through the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel.

To ensure employee well-being during the transit, the Health and Medical Education Department is setting up dedicated medical aid posts at seven strategic highway locations, including Qazigund, Banihal, Ramsu, Ramban, Chenani, Udhampur, and Jhajjar Kotli.

Continuous governance through the Winter Secretariat

To ensure citizens in the Kashmir Division experience no interruption in government services, the General Administration Department will maintain a fully functional Winter Secretariat at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.

Each administrative department will deploy a gazetted officer and four non-gazetted staff in Srinagar, giving preference to female employees and those with medical conditions. A monthly duty roster will also ensure ministers and administrative secretaries remain stationed at the Winter Secretariat throughout the season, maintaining responsive governance statewide.