Darbar move: J&K government offices open in Srinagar today

SRINAGAR: As part of the pre-independence biannual Darbar Move practice, Jammu and Kashmir government started functioning from here today after shifting from the winter capital Jammu.

Raj Bhavan, Civil Secretariat and other offices, which had closed down in Jammu on April 25, were opened here as per the darbar move- a century-old practice under which the government functions six months each in the two capitals.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inspected the traditional guard of honour inside the Civil Secretariat premises to mark the opening of the offices, officials said.

However, this time there were no customary interactions between the chief minister and journalists due to the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections being in force. The media persons were not allowed to enter the oremises of the Civil Secretariat.

The government will function in the summer capital till late October and then move to back Jammu, the winter capital of the state, in the first week of November.

Authorities have made all necessary arrangements including security to ensure smooth functioning of the offices in the Kashmir Valley, which had witnessed a spurt in militant activities during the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, including the killing of political workers.