Srinagar on Monday (May 4, 2026) functioned as the full-fledged summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir after a hiatus of six years, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the Civil Secretariat.
All offices reopened at the Civil Secretariat as part of the annual shifting from the winter capital, Jammu, which is currently experiencing a heat wave. The annual shifting, locally known as the Darbar Move, was abolished by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in 2020 following a court order.
“The Darbar Move, which was resumed last year at Jammu, marks a renewed continuity of governance in Jammu and Kashmir, with the full Secretariat now shifting to the summer capital after several years,” Mr. Abdullah said.
In 2025, Mr. Abdullah ordered the resumption of the traditional shifting of capitals in Jammu. The 150-year-old tradition was introduced by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872. Around 151 government departments shift offices as part of the Darbar Move, and more than 10,000 employees change their locations.
In the wake of the revival of the Darbar Move, the J&K government inaugurated 368 residential units for government employees this year at Sempora, Pampore, at a cost of ₹90.65 crore to provide housing to employees.
