Explainer: Why Darbar move has Jammu enthused

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made the announcement about restoring the Darbar move — the shifting of government offices to Srinagar and Jammu for a duration of six months each — on October 16, the day he completed a year in office. It marked fulfilling a key manifesto promise of the ruling National Conference during the Assembly polls held last year.

The practice, started by Dogra ruler Ranbir Singh in 1872, was not just symbolic. The Darbar move had socio-economic and political significance too. It was meant to ensure administrative presence in both the regions as well as avoiding the harsh winter of Kashmir and the scorching summer of Jammu.

Why it was discontinued

Government offices used to function from Jammu during the winter season and for six months from Srinagar during summer. One of the arguments given by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for scrapping the 150-year-old biannual exercise in 2021 was that the administration had taken concrete steps to promote e-office working by digitising records. The annual expenditure of over Rs 200 crore was also taken into consideration.

In 2020, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, while disposing of a public interest litigation, asked the Central and UT governments to take a decision on continuing the practice that involved spending of over Rs 200 crore. The Bench stated that the money, resources and time consumed in shifting of offices could be utilised towards the welfare and development of the UT.

How Jammu took a hit

The discontinuation of the administrative exercise in 2021 dealt a severe blow to Jammu’s economy, which thrived as thousands of government employees from Kashmir would relocate to the winter capital for six months. The decision to end the practice in the name of cost-cutting left the markets struggling.

Vibrant lanes and markets like Raghunath Bazaar and Residency Road in the old city, once abuzz with visitors, have been largely deserted over the past four years.

Jammu’s shopkeepers, along with the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), had pressed for restoring the Darbar move multiple times.

Once the Darbar opens in Jammu on November 3, traders expect a return of business and the winter vibrancy that once defined the city’s economic pulse. CCI president Arun Gupta said the decision will not only rejuvenate the region’s economy and business, but also foster goodwill and strengthen the communal harmony between Kashmir and Jammu.

Hotels, transporters, restaurants and property owners also stand to gain as the seasonal demand is expected to rise sharply.

Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, secretary general of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the move will lead to cultural exchange like earlier. “This will not only benefit the industry of Jammu but also small Kashmiri traders as a sense of positivity will create more opportunities for everyone,” he added.

An employee who did not wish to be named said while the move disturbs family life to some extent, “it will bring a sense of connection”.

Logistics of shifting

The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transportation Corporation and the Traffic Department have been asked to arrange additional buses and convoys on November 1 and 2 to ensure the safe movement of employees and equipment to Jammu. The Estates as well as the Housing and Urban Development departments have been told to resolve the staff’s accommodation-related issues and ensure readiness of residential quarters.

Political headwinds

The return of the Darbar move has provided a political boost to the National Conference in Jammu, a BJP stronghold. The NC, considered a Kashmir-based party, has garnered goodwill among the business community and the urban middle class of the Hindu-dominated Jammu.

The decision has also sent a strong political message that Omar Abdullah is attentive to the aspirations of Jammu, a factor that could influence the bypoll in the Nagrota constituency on November 11, where BJP is leaving no stone unturned to retain the seat.