Jammu’s civil secretariat resumed its operations on Monday as chief minister Omar Abdullah began working from the Union Territory’s winter capital amid fresh protests for restoring the bi-annual Darbar Move.

Omar received a warm reception at the Jammu secretariat during his first official visit to the office since assuming charge as chief minister on October 16 in Srinagar.

Fresh protests erupted in Jammu with CPM activists demanding the full restoration of the bi-annual Darbar Move, a long-standing practice that had been suspended by the lieutenant governor’s administration in 2021. The demand for reinstating the administrative shift comes amid discontent over the political changes following the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019.

Omar, undeterred by adverse weather conditions, made his way to Jammu by road after flight services were cancelled because of poor visibility. In a post on X, Omar said: “Poor visibility in Jammu meant a sudden, last minute, road trip. Nothing flew in or out of Jammu yesterday, so I had to saddle up and take the road to the winter capital.”

This marks the continuation of a “curtailed” version of the Darbar Move, which was reintroduced in 2021 but with notable changes. While the practice still involves shifting key administrative secretaries between Jammu and Srinagar every six months, the return of Omar and his ministers to the winter capital is seen as a step towards revitalising activities within the secretariat.

The Darbar Move is a tradition that dates back to 1872 during the reign of the Dogra Maharaja. For over 140 years, it saw the seasonal transfer of government offices — along with thousands of employees and files — between Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter. The unique practice was temporarily suspended in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in 2021 theLG’s administration effectively put an end to it. Only top-level officers were allowed to travel between the two capitals, while most employees were required to remainstationed in their respective locations year-round.

The government defended the shift as a cost-cutting measure, claiming it would save approximately ₹200 crore annually by transitioning to an e-office system. However, critics argued that the decision was more politically motivated, seeking to reduce the presence of Kashmiris in Jammu during the winter months. Several affluent Kashmiris have long maintained properties in Jammu, where they spend several weeks in the colder months, further fueling discontent in the region.

A government spokesperson said Omar, in a gesture of camaraderie, visited the chambers of his ministers to formally welcome them, “reflecting his commitment to fostering a collaborative working environment”.

“During his visit, chief minister also inspected the ongoing construction of the new Assembly complex,” he said.