In the era of digitalisation and information technology, the cash-starved state spends a whopping Rs 100 crore on biannual Durbar move practice every year. A major chunk of the amount is utilised on “shifting” the official files, records and documents.
The Durbar move is a ritual of shifting the civil secretariat every six months from one capital city to the other.
According to the official order, this year the Durbar will close at Srinagar on October 26 and reopen in Jammu on November 5 for the winter session. “All departments shall ensure that records are packed in boxes after the working hours on the last working day at Srinagar,” the official order states, adding, “All departments shall ensure that records are properly packed in boxes/trunks and their keys reach the advance parties at Jammu well in time.”
The “records” mentioned in the official order comprise thousands of official files, documents and records, which can be digitalised, but the government hires hundreds of trucks every six months to move these files.
“We have deployed 150 trucks and 40 buses for the Durbar move,” Manmohan Singh, managing director, J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), told Kashmir Post. Besides vehicles from the SRTC, the state government also hires private trucks for shifting the files.
This year, 63 departments, including the Governor’s secretariat, will shift to Jammu, while camp offices of 53 departments will start functioning at Jammu from November 5.
A senior official of the science and technology department said, “Crores being spent every six months on the shifting of files can easily be saved through digitalisation, but the state authorities are not interested in utilising technology.”
Started in 1872
- Dogra ruler Maharaja Ranbir Singh had started the practice of Durbar move in 1872 to escape the harsh winters of Kashmir and the scorching summer of Jammu
- Every year in October-November, the Durbar moves to Jammu from Srinagar and in April-May, it shifts to Srinagar
- The records’ convoy and employees leave separately and are escorted by police teams
