Omar Abdullah Restores Historic ‘Darbar Move’ After Four Years, Says It Will Boost Jammu and Kashmir’s Unity and Economy

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced the restoration of the traditional Darbar Move after a gap of four years, describing it as a vital step toward strengthening the union territory’s unity and reviving its economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah said, “Jammu had received a major setback when the Darbar Move was discontinued. It was also our responsibility, and we had promised the public that we would restore the Darbar Move. Today, the Darbar Move has been restored. I hope that this will give a significant boost to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Highlighting the emotional and historical importance of the century-old practice, the Chief Minister added, “Some things hold emotional significance… The Darbar Move, which connects Srinagar and Jammu, was the biggest way to do so, and by stopping it, had dealt a blow to the unity of Jammu and Kashmir, which we have tried to rectify.”

The Darbar Move—a 149-year-old biannual practice initiated during the Dogra rule—entails the shifting of the J&K government offices between Jammu and Srinagar to ensure governance accessibility in both regions. The move had been halted in recent years citing administrative costs and logistical challenges.