24-10-2023 : Altaf Bukhari, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, has made a significant pledge to the people of the region. He has promised to reverse the decision to discontinue the traditional practice of “Darbar Move” if his party is voted into power.
The “Darbar Move” was a long-standing practice in Jammu and Kashmir, involving the bi-annual relocation of the secretariat and all government offices from one capital city to another. During the winter, the capital was in Jammu, and during the summer, it moved to Srinagar. This practice, initiated in 1872 during the rule of Dogra Maharaja Ranbir Singh, continued until 2021.
In 2021, authorities decided to halt the “Darbar Move” practice, citing the successful transition to e-Office systems as the reason. They argued that the traditional biennial move of government offices was no longer necessary. Additionally, it was noted that ending the “Darbar Move” would result in significant cost savings of around Rs 200 Crore for the government exchequer.
Altaf Bukhari, as the leader of the Apni Party, expressed strong support for the people of Jammu who are advocating for the reinstatement of the “Darbar Move” tradition. He emphasized his party’s commitment to addressing this issue promptly if they were to be elected to power.
Bukhari stated, “Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party fully backs the legitimate demand of the people of Jammu seeking a reversal of the decision regarding the discontinuation of the ‘Darbar Move’ decision.” He further clarified that his party would prioritize this matter and take necessary action if they were entrusted with power through the electoral process.