Srinagar, Oct 20 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the annual Darbar Move of offices from Srinagar to Jammu for the winter season of 2026-27, with offices scheduled to close in the summer capital on October 30 and 31 and reopen in Jammu on November 2.
According to Government Order No. 1664-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated October 19, offices listed under Annexures A and B will shift to Jammu in full and in camp, respectively.
Offices observing a five-day work week will close in Srinagar after office hours on October 30 (Friday), while those following a six-day work week will close on October 31 (Saturday). All the offices will reopen in Jammu on November 2 (Monday).
The government order states that offices moving in camp will carry only 33 per cent of their staff strength or 10 officials, whichever is less, unless otherwise specified.
The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has been directed to arrange a sufficient number of buses in good condition to transport employees on October 31 and November 1. Tickets will be issued in advance from October 27.
The transport corporation has also been asked to ensure that each convoy is accompanied by one crane, two empty buses and mobile workshop facilities to deal with any eventuality during the journey.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police will provide escort to the convoys and ensure their precedence at the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel to facilitate the smooth movement of employees.
The government has also approved a uniform special move travel allowance of Rs 25,000 for each employee participating in the move. Salaries for October 2026 of employees posted in move offices will be drawn on October 29.
Meanwhile, the General Administration Department (GAD) will establish a Winter Secretariat at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. Each department will retain one gazetted and four non-gazetted employees to facilitate the functioning of the Winter Secretariat.
After reopening in Jammu, the office timings for the Civil Secretariat and Heads of Departments located within its premises will be from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.
The offices of moving Heads of Departments located outside the Civil Secretariat and observing a six-day work week will function from 10 am to 4.30 pm.
The annual Darbar Move is the biannual shifting of government offices between Srinagar, the summer capital, and Jammu, the winter capital, to facilitate administrative functioning across the Union Territory during the respective seasons.—(NVI)
