Darbar Move: J&K offices to reopen in Jammu on Monday

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to start functioning from here on Monday for the next six months after shifting from summer capital Srinagar as part of the pre-independence biannual 'Darbar Move' practice.

Darbar Move' is a century-old practice under which the government functions six months each in the two capital.

"The Secretariat and other offices, which are part of Darbar?Move, will be reopened in Jammu, for winter season, 2015-16. All the?offices started functioning from tomorrow," an official spokesman said.

"All arrangements have been finalised for tomorrow's Darbar move offices reopening," he added.

As part of bi-annual Darbar move, the Civil Secretariat, seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, along with other offices closed in Srinagar on October 30.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed will be given guard of honour by the J&K Police contingent at Civil Secretariat complex. He will take salute on the occasion and inspect the contingent that will participate in the function.

The 141-year-old practice was started by the Dogra Maharaja of the state Ranbir Singh in 1872 to escape the extreme weather conditions in Jammu during summers and in Srinagar during winters.

The practice continued after Independence also so that people from both Jammu region and Kashmir Valley have equal access to seat of power during the year.

Security has been beefed up in and around Civil Secretariat in view of the call given by Congress to gherao it tomorrow on the opening day of Darbar Move offices.

The Congress workers will assemble at Hari Singh Park here and march towards the Secretariat.

"The state government has completely failed in keeping and fulfilling the promises made to the people," J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president G A Mir said.