Amid tight security Darbar opens in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 7: Amid tight security arrangements, the Civil Secretariat and related government offices reopened here today for the biannual 'Darbar Move', after functioning in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir for the past six months.

The offices had closed in Jammu on April 7 and would now function here for the next six months.

The 'Darbar Move' practice between the two state capitals Srinagar for six summer months and Jammu for six winter months had started in 1872 during Maharaja Ranbir Singh's rule.

The Civil Secretariat, which houses the offices of the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and other top bureaucrats, is the nerve centre of official activities. Nearly 10,000 government officials and employees will move here for the next six months.

The 'Darbar Move' practice has turned out to be a costly affair.

Every six months, the state government incurs an expenditure several hundred crores of rupees while shifting the offices between the two capitals.

The state exchequer suffers heavy losses for maintaining the traditional system of shifting the government and other offices from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad took the guard of honour of a contingent of the state police and then addressed the employees before starting his daily work at the Civil Secretariat.

The security forces had been put on alert across the Kashmir valley in view of the re-opening of 'Darbar Move' offices here.

Security had been upgraded to maximum levels at the Civil Secretariat, which is the nerve centre of all official activities and houses the offices of the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and other top bureaucrats.

Security had also been further beefed up at all hotels, government quarters and private accommodation where the migrant and other employees have been lodged.

Security personnel in large numbers were deployed all along the routes to be taken by the VIPs and the 'Darbar Move' employees.

UNI