Order to open Durbar move offices in Srinagar

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, April 10

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today ordered the formal opening of the annual Durbar Move offices for the summer season in Srinagar on May 4, but the move employees would work on “as is where is” basis in Kashmir and Jammu “to ensure effective transaction of government business”.

The government said this arrangement would be reviewed after assessing the extent and spread of Covid-19 after June 15.

The Durbar move, a 148-year-old practice, is the relocation of capital and Civil Secretariat from Srinagar to Jammu and vice-versa after every six months. Under this arrangement, government offices function six months each from Srinagar during summers and from Jammu during winters.

According to a government order, the Civil Secretariat in Jammu would continue to remain functional and the move employees would work on “as is where is” basis ie Kashmir-based staff shall work from Srinagar and Jammu-based staff shall work from Jammu.

“The move offices outside the Civil Secretariat (at least 108 offices), would also continue to remain functional at Jammu and Srinagar, as per the (“as is where is” basis) mechanism. Administrative Secretaries would make necessary arrangements to ensure the functionality in their respective departments, both in Srinagar and Jammu. Similar arrangements shall be put in place by the heads of the departments observing Durbar move,” the order read.

The order said the Civil Secretariat Treasury and J&K Bank Moving Branch at Civil Secretariat would be functional at both places within the Civil Secretariat viz, Jammu and Srinagar. “The dispensary of the Civil Secretariat shall remain functional at both places within the Civil Secretariat,” it said.

The order said the Kashmir-based employees, who are required to move Srinagar on account of Durbar Move, April 25 and 26, would be provided transport facility by the JKSRTC.

“Such employees shall provide their particulars to the General Administration Department for the issuance of appropriate passes, if required, for movement on the national highway,” it said, adding that the move employees would be entitled for the use of ration card at one place (either at Jammu or in Srinagar only) as per his or her convenience.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) would carry out extensive sanitation and fumigation drives in the Civil Secretariat, other offices and residential colonies along the hotels.