Jammu and Kashmir CS reviews preparations of 'Darbar Move'

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam Sunday directed to provide foolproof security arrangements in and around the Civil Secretariat here, which is scheduled to reopen on November 5.

The Civil Secretariat, the seat of the state government, the Raj Bhavan and other major offices closed in summer capital Srinagar on October 26.

'Darbar Move' is the 146-year-old practice of bi-annual shifting of the state capital between Jammu and Srinagar.

It was started by the then Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape the extreme heat during summers in Jammu and biting cold of winters in Srinagar.

The chief secretary visited the civil secretariat and inspected the arrangements in offices of various departments, including the governor's office, an official spokesman said.

He directed the concerned to ensure foolproof security arrangements in and around the civil secretariat, he said.

The chief secretary directed the department concerned to complete all renovation and repair works well before the opening up of the annual darbar, the spokesman said.