SRINAGAR, Oct 20 (Agencies): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the annual Darbar Move of offices from Srinagar to Jammu for the 2026–27 winter season, with all moving offices scheduled to reopen in Jammu on November 2.
Chief Minister received a Guard of Honour as the Civil Secretariat reopened in Srinagar following the Darbar Move shift to the summer capital on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Under Government Order No. 1664-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department on October 19, offices observing a five-day week will close in Srinagar after office hours on October 30, while those following a six-day week will shut on October 31.
The order, issued by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government provides for offices to move either in full or with a reduced staff strength, depending on the category specified in the order’s annexures.
Offices moving in camp will generally be allowed to take 33 per cent of their staff strength or 10 officials, whichever is lower, unless otherwise specified.
The government has fixed a uniform Special Move Travel Allowance of Rs 25,000 for each employee participating in the move. Employees who fail to move before or within the prescribed deadline will not be eligible for the allowance.
The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has been directed to arrange sufficient buses in good condition to transport employees on October 31 and November 1. Advance ticket booking will begin on October 27 at the Civil Secretariat and JKRTC’s main booking counters, with destination-based booking to be provided wherever feasible.
Each convoy will be accompanied by a crane, two empty buses and mobile workshop facilities to address breakdowns en route. The J&K Police will escort the convoys to their respective destinations and ensure priority passage through the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel and the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel.
The Health and Medical Education Department has been directed to arrange medical assistance at Qazigund, Banihal, Ramsu, Ramban, Chenani, Udhampur and Jhajjar Kotli on the days employees travel from Srinagar to Jammu.
Under the order, the October salaries of employees working in moving offices will be drawn on October 29. Non-gazetted employees may also apply for an advance payment of salary, which will be recovered in instalments in accordance with the rules.
The government has restricted leave in combination with or immediately following the move days, allowing it only in exceptional circumstances with the approval of the concerned Administrative Secretary. Kashmir-based employees wishing to avail themselves of five days of Special Casual Leave will be permitted to do so, irrespective of whether accommodation is available to them in Jammu.
The Estates Department will arrange accommodation for officers and officials moving to Jammu in accordance with past practice. Employees will not be permitted to occupy government, estate, municipal or residential accommodation without a proper allotment order. However, they may retain government accommodation allotted to them in Srinagar for the bona fide use of their families, subject to approved terms and conditions and intimation to the Estates Department.
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has also been directed to establish ration counters at suitable locations near residential colonies of employees in Jammu to ensure adequate supplies.
The government has further ordered the establishment of a Winter Secretariat at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to maintain administrative functioning during the winter session. Each Administrative Department will identify one gazetted officer and four non-gazetted officials for retention in Srinagar, subject to prior approval from the competent authority.
Departments have been asked to give preference, wherever feasible, to female employees and those with serious medical conditions while identifying staff for retention. Each department must also identify a room at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar for the retained employees and submit details to the General Administration Department for allotment.
All Administrative Departments have been directed to detach staff, if any, deployed from subordinate offices in the Kashmir Division by October 27. The Senior Superintendent of Police (Security), Civil Secretariat, will withdraw temporary identity cards issued to such staff and submit a report before the Srinagar offices close.
After reopening, the Civil Secretariat and Heads of Departments located within its premises in Jammu will function from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Moving Heads of Departments located outside the Civil Secretariat and observing a six-day week will work from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
The order’s Annexure A lists departments and offices that will move in full, including the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the Civil Secretariat departments, the Chief Electoral Office, the Directorate of Information, the Directorate General of Accounts and Treasuries, the Labour Commissioner, the Transport Commissioner and several other offices.
Annexure B identifies offices that will operate in camp, including the State Taxes Department, the Excise Department, the Economics and Statistics Department, the J&K Services Selection Board, the Board of Professional Entrance Examination, the National Health Mission Directorate and various other departments, boards and corporations. Staffing arrangements for certain offices will be determined separately by the authorities concerned.
The annual Darbar Move involves the seasonal shifting of government offices between Srinagar and Jammu, with the winter working arrangements intended to maintain administrative operations in Jammu while a limited administrative presence is retained in Srinagar.