Govt Restores ‘Darbar Move’; Employees To Rs 25,000 Special TA, Salary To Be Drawn On Oct 31

Srinagar: The government on Thursday ordered restoration of the ‘Darbar’ move tradition, nearly four years after it was scrapped by J&K administration in 2021.

“The offices, as indicated at Annexures ‘A’ and ‘B’ to this order shall move to Jammu, ‘In Full’ and ‘In Camp respectively for the Winter Season 2025-26,” reads an order, “The offices observing five days week shall close at Srinagar on 31st October, 2025 (Friday) after office hours, and the offices observing six days week shall close on 1st November, 2O25 (Saturday) after office hours.”

All the offices shall reopen at Jammu on 3rd November (Monday), the order reads.

“The offices moving in camp shall carry only 33%of the staff strength in that particular office, or 10 officials, whichever is minimum, or otherwise as specifically indicated.”

The JKRTC has been asked to make available sufficient number of buses in good condition for transportation of employees on 1st and 2nd November.

“The booking of buses shall be for destinations of the employees, wherever feasible. Tickets shall be issued by the IKRTC in advance i.e. from 27th October, 2025, both from the Civil Secretariat as well as from the main booking counters of JKRTC.”

JKRTC, it said, shall ensure that one crane and two empty buses accompany each convoy on the respective days so that employees do not face inconvenience due to break-down of buses on the way.

The Health & Medical Education Department has been asked to make arrangements for medical aid facilities at Qazigund, Banlhal, Ramsu, Ramban, Chenani, Udhampur and Jhajjar Kotli on the days when the employees travel from Srinagar to Jammu.

Administrative Secretary Health & Medical Education Department shall issue necessary instructions in this behalf to the Directorates of Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, accordingly, the order reads further.

“No moving employee shall occupy any Government/ E.P./Municipal/residential accommodation except under proper allotment order,” it said, adding, “However, the employees can retain Government accommodation allotted to them at Srinagar for bonafide use of their families under intimation to the Estates Department, on approved terms and conditions.”

Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department has been asked to ensure that Ration Counters are set up at appropriate locations around residential colonies of move employees at Jammu, so as to ensure adequate supply of ration.

“Special Move TA shall be paid at the uniform rate of Rs. 25,000/- per move employee,” the order reads, adding, “Special Move T.A. shall not, however, be payable to such of the employees who do not move before/within the prescribed date. Advance pay shall also be authorized in favour of such of Non-Gazetted moving employees who may apply for the same, which shall be recoverable in instalments as per rules”.

The government also ordered that salary for the month of October-2025, in respect of all the employees working in move offices, shall be drawn on 31st October.

“No leave shall be admissible in combination/continuation of move days except under very exceptional circumstances,” the government ordered, adding, “The concerned Administrative Secretaries shall sanction leave, whatever due, under very exceptional circumstances only.” However, five days special casual leave shall be granted in favour of Kashmir based move employees and those not having accommodation at Jammu, who may wish to avail the same, the order added.