Jammu administration resumes functioning as Civil Secretariat reopens
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took the salute as the biannual Darbar Move practice returned to the winter capital on Monday.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration resumed operations from Jammu on Monday, according to the Daily Excelsior. The Civil Secretariat and other government offices, including the Lok Bhawan, have reopened as part of the 154-year-old Darbar Move practice.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah arrived at the Civil Secretariat, the Union Territory government's seat, where he received a ceremonial guard of honour. Abdullah took the salute as offices began working again, two days after they closed in Srinagar.
The Chief Minister visited several offices at the Secretariat and spoke with officials. Ahead of the reopening, the Civil Secretariat, which houses the offices of the Chief Minister, ministers, and the Chief Secretary, underwent renovation and a facelift.
Security has been increased in Jammu, with police and paramilitary forces stationed in important areas. Officials said personnel have been deployed around the Secretariat, vital installations, and major roads.
The Darbar Move was introduced by Dogra rulers in 1872 to help the administration avoid harsh winter weather in the Kashmir Valley. While the practice was discontinued in 2021, the Omar Abdullah-led government restored it in October 2025.