Srinagar, October 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced the schedule for the annual Darbar Move to Jammu, with offices in the winter capital set to reopen on November 2. Eligible employees shifting to Jammu will receive a special move allowance of ₹25,000.

As per the government order, offices following a five-day workweek will close in Srinagar after working hours on October 30, while offices observing a six-day week will cease operations on October 31.

The order identifies 50 departments and offices that will function in Jammu with limited staff, while other designated offices will shift with their full workforce. Under the camp arrangement, departments will generally deploy 33 per cent of their total staff strength or 10 officials, whichever is lower, unless specific instructions provide otherwise. The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages will move with 26 employees.

The government has clarified that employees who fail to complete the move within the stipulated period will not be eligible for the ₹25,000 allowance. Non-gazetted employees can also seek an advance salary, which will be recovered in instalments according to the prescribed rules.

The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation has been instructed to provide bus services for employees travelling to Jammu on October 31 and November 1. Advance ticket booking will commence on October 27 at the Civil Secretariat and designated corporation booking counters. Each convoy will have a crane, two standby buses and mobile workshop facilities to address vehicle breakdowns during the journey.

Police personnel will escort the convoys to their destinations and facilitate priority movement through the Banihal-Qazigund and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee tunnels. Medical assistance will also be available at Qazigund, Banihal, Ramsu, Ramban, Chenani, Udhampur and Jhajjar Kotli throughout the movement.

The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has been directed to establish ration counters near residential areas where moving employees are likely to stay in Jammu. The Estates Department will make accommodation arrangements in line with established practice. Employees, however, cannot occupy government or other designated residential premises without a valid allotment order.

October salaries for employees serving in offices shifting to Jammu will be drawn on October 29. The order also places restrictions on employees taking leave in combination with or immediately after the designated move days, except in exceptional circumstances. Kashmir-based employees who wish to avail themselves of the facility will be granted five days of Special Casual Leave, regardless of whether government accommodation is available in Jammu.

To ensure that administrative work continues in Srinagar during the winter period, a Winter Secretariat will function at the Civil Secretariat. Each department will nominate one gazetted and four non-gazetted employees to remain in Srinagar, subject to approval by the competent authority. Departments have been advised to give preference, wherever possible, to women employees and those suffering from serious medical conditions.

The government has further directed departments to relieve staff members posted from subordinate offices in Kashmir Division by October 27. Following the reopening of offices in Jammu, the Civil Secretariat and heads of departments located within its premises will function from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Heads of departments operating outside the Secretariat and following a six-day workweek will work from 10 am to 4:30 pm.