Engineer Rashid Protests for Restoration of Darbar Move

Srinagar, Oct 25 – Awami Ittehad Party Chief and Member of Parliament, Engineer Rashid, protested outside the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, demanding the reinstatement of the historic Darbar Move. This biannual tradition, which alternated Jammu and Srinagar as the seasonal capitals of Jammu and Kashmir, was suspended, causing administrative challenges for the region’s residents.

During the protest, Rashid highlighted the confusion and inconvenience that has arisen due to the suspension. “We used to have two capitals—Jammu in the winter and Srinagar in the summer. Now, neither city holds that status, leaving people uncertain about where to go or whether their documents are in Jammu or Kashmir,” he remarked.

Engineer Rashid urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the issue, stating, “We demand either the restoration of the Darbar Move or for Srinagar to be made the permanent capital. The best solution would be to declare Srinagar as the capital.”

The Darbar Move, a tradition over 150 years old, enabled government offices to shift between Jammu and Srinagar, providing equal access to administrative services for both regions. However, since its suspension, concerns over administrative disconnect and inefficiency have grown.

The administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha defended the decision, citing the substantial financial burden and logistical challenges of the Darbar Move, which involved an annual expenditure of approximately Rs 200 crore and significant disruptions to government operations