The royal tradition of Durbar move
By Kavita Bhargava

DURBAR move is the 150-year-old tradition of shifting of the state government offices from Srinagar, the summer capital to Jammu, the winter capital to and vice versa, introduced by the maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir. The purpose was to cater to the aspirations of the people of both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country with two capitals. All the state government offices, alongwith their bag and baggage, move to summer capital Srinagar in summer while Jammu is the centre of attraction for six months in winter and vice versa. Durbar move is associated with the Durbar of the maharajas of yore. The Durbar move is believed to have been introduced by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. The successive state governments, since 1947, including that of Sheikh Abdullah, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and even G.M. Sadiq could not change this ageold tradition. The state government, however, in the recent past, had planned to break away from this tradition. It was in 1987 when the Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had ordered the permanent stationing of 20 departments at Srinagar and 17 departments at Jammu respectively but due to the strong resentment by the people of Jammu region followed by the intervention of the then Union Home Minister Buta Singh, the Chief Minister had to withdraw the order and the Durbar move continued as usual.

The bi-annual move of the offices commences in the last week of October from Srinagar to Jammu and in the last week of April from Jammu to Srinagar thereafter, the offices work for about six months in each capital.

The Durbar move has become a necessity as the people from the far-flung areas of both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir get the opportunity to visit the Secretariat and seek the redressal of their grievances. This would not have been possible if the capital had been kept at one place only. The fact, however, remains that the move is a costly burden on the J&K government. According to sources, the annual financial burden on Durbar move is to the tune of Rs 14 crore annually. About 600 crore has already been spent on the move since the tradition began. The official files are closed before the movement of the Secretariat and then moved to their respective destinations, Jammu or Srinagar, in big iron boxes. The employees, who also move with the Durbar, are provided accommodation by the government besides the travelling allowances and holidays for about a week for moving to the respective places and for joining their duties. Besides, it takes ten days for the move and yet another ten days to open boxes and bring out the official files and start work in the Civil Secretariat. Roughly, it takes about three weeks for the move of the Secretariat from one capital to other.

Many people feel that Durbar move is a time-consuming affair and an extra burden on the exchequer. The sole motive was the princely enjoyment for maharajas, climatic comforts and heavenly pleasures,"feels Swatantra Dev Kotwal, advocate, District Court, Udhampur adding that the same old princely tradition of Durbar move is still prevalent, only the traditional palanquin has been replaced by cars and aeroplanes.

People also argue that Durbar move is an unnecessary expenditure adding that many other states which fall under the cold winter zones as well as under hot summer zones, do not keep moving from one place to another. They also term it as a reminder of the bygone days of autocratic Raj.

Many others, however feel that it was intended to ensure the visibility and effectiveness of the government and satisfied the aspirations of the people of both the regions. Besides, it is also believed that as most of work is not possible in harsh winter months in snow-bound valley and the scorching heat of Jammu in summer, the government shifts to the respective capitals keeping in now climatic extremities.

Despite all the argument, Durbar move has become an important part of the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as most of the employees who are in the state government jobs, keep moving with the move.