CM, ministers move to winter capital, assume office in Jammu

Jammu, Nov 11: Exuberance pervaded the air as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with his entire cabinet Monday assumed office in the Civil Secretariat in the winter capital, the first time after taking over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir as Union Territory.

During his earlier stint from 2009 to 2014, he was at the helm of affairs as the Chief Minister of J&K state.

Notably, all the Administrative Secretaries and Union Territory (UT) level Heads of Departments (HoDs) were already directed to ensure their availability at Civil Secretariat, Jammu with effect from November 11, 2024.

However, the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar will also continue to function as usual.

So, the Chief Minister and his cabinet’s move to the winter capital, though was not a traditional ‘Darbar Move’ – a practice of biannual shift of Secretariat and other government offices, which was stopped in 2021.

CIVIL SECRETARIAT COMES TO LIFE; TURNS ANIMATED

However, their arrival in the Civil Secretariat this morning was marked by warmth and enthusiasm exuded by employees, who swarmed outside their offices (inside the Secretariat) to catch a glimpse of CM Omar and greet him.

This gesture of cordiality was reciprocated by the beaming Chief Minister in equal measure, with humility laced by warm smiles amid an exchange of pleasantries.

As soon as the Chief Minister’s vehicle entered the precincts of the Civil Secretariat, a large crowd of employees was already there, all geared up with bouquets and warm wishes to welcome him.

Unlike in the past, there was no ‘Guard of honour’ followed by media interaction, yet he received a rousing welcome upon his arrival.

He was warmly greeted by his Council of Ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and cabinet members Sakina Masood Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta and other senior officials, and staff of the Civil Secretariat were also present to receive him.

CM Omar moved towards his office, while accepting salutations, best wishes and bouquets of employees, and their leaders with geniality. Employees, gathered in a large number, with vibrant faces were capturing moments on mobile phones. Entire complex had turned animated - full of life and vitality.

This was his (Omar’s) first official visit to the Jammu Secretariat since taking office as the Chief Minister on October 16 in Srinagar.

After assuming office, in a gesture of camaraderie, the Chief Minister visited the chambers of his ministers to formally welcome them, reflecting his commitment to fostering a collaborative working environment.

INSPECTS UNDER-CONSTRUCTION NEW ASSEMBLY COMPLEX

After spending an hour or so in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Omar along with his cabinet ministers and Advisor moved out of the Civil Secretariat to inspect the ongoing construction of the new Assembly Complex.

Instead of using a cavalcade of vehicles, he preferred to cover this short distance on foot. He toured the complex, where officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) Roads & Buildings (R&B) Division provided a detailed briefing on the project’s various stages, timeline and next steps.

The ambitious project, initiated during his earlier stint, still awaits completion. According to officials, the Chief Minister issued directions to expedite the pace of work.

Thereafter, it was business as usual in the Civil Secretariat in the winter capital as other ministers too assumed office and resumed their normal functioning.

As per whispers in the official corridors, the Chief Minister was supposed to leave for the Union Capital by 3 pm. Though, officially, it could not be confirmed.

WAS IT DARBAR MOVE?

As the functioning resumed in the Civil Secretariat, many conjectured it as a “partial Darbar Move” amid talks about its (Darbar Move’s) resumption as a part of the current ruling dispensation’s election manifesto.

Conjectures were based on certain statements and reports quoting some senior leaders (including ministers) of the National Conference, Congress and even independent MLAs, who formed part of the ruling dispensation.

The promise of the restoration of the “Darbar Move” exercise was part of the election manifestos of both the National Conference as well as Congress, both pre-election alliance partners.

However, the confusion was already removed by an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on October 23, directing all the Administrative Secretaries and Union Territory (UT) level Heads of Departments (HoDs) to “ensure their availability at Civil Secretariat, Jammu with effect from November 11, 2024.”

It was, however, specified that they would attend the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, as per functional requirement.

The Government had also ordered that the Estates Department, “upon requisition by the concerned Administrative Departments”, would provide “accommodation to the officers or officials, as per requirement.”

This all was aimed at ensuring “effective and efficient conduct of official business at the Civil Secretariat.”

“The arrangements about the availability of staff of Administrative Departments of Civil Secretariat shall be determined by the respective Departments,” the GAD order had mentioned.

In the changed circumstances, this routine order was taken as directives for a “partial Darbar Move.”

However, the GAD order issued on October 23, 2024, was almost a replica of the “Government Order No 978-JK (GAD) of 2024, dated April 27, 2024” regarding “Availability of staff at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar and Jammu.”

One difference was that the order issued on April 27, 2024, had specifically mentioned, “For effective and efficient conduct of official business at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar and Jammu, it is hereby ordered that the Civil Secretariat shall continue to remain functional at both places and the Administrative Secretaries shall ensure arrangements for smooth functioning of offices at both places viz., Srinagar and Jammu.”

This direction did not form part of the October 23, 2024 order.

“Administrative Secretaries shall ensure their availability at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar with effect from May 1, 2024. However, they will attend the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, as per the functional requirement,” the order issued on April 27 had read as that time it was a “summer move.”

Except for one or two extra expressions, the April 27, 2024 order also had the same language (directions) as were there in the October 23, 2024 order.

“The arrangements about the availability of staff of Administrative Departments of Civil Secretariat shall be determined by the respective Departments, ensuring smooth conduct of official business at both places, with bare minimum shifting of staff. The Estates Department, upon requisition by the concerned Administrative Departments, shall provide accommodation to the officers or officials, as per requirement, only where necessary,” the April 27 order had read.

Notably, after initial euphoric statements about the “resumption of Darbar Move after taking over the reins of Government”, the Chief Minister, his ministers as well as NC MLAs have maintained that this historic practice will be resumed as per promise yet it will take some time.

“It will not be possible this year. It may be resumed partially next year and fully after the restoration of statehood. That’s why we are seeking early restoration of statehood. We believe that this is imperative as it relates to the economy of Jammu besides being a historic move to bring two regions closer,” is their assertion.

DEMAND FOR RESTORATION OF DARBAR MOVE

Though Jammu traders too are demanding the restoration of Darbar Move yet on Monday, as the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers assumed office in the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, CPI(M) workers, led by J&K Kisan Tehreek president Kishore Kumar, held a protest demonstration seeking revival of bi-annual practice besides early restoration of statehood.

Criticising the BJP for snatching statehood and stopping this (Darbar Move) practice, the protesting CPI(M) workers, holding placards and raising slogans, demanded that the new Government should immediately restore “Darbar Move.”