Government offices today started functioning from the summer capital here after shifting from Jammu as part of the pre-independence bi-annual Darbar move practice.

 The civil Secretariat, Raj Bhavan and other offices opened here with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti taking salute and inspecting the ceremonial guard of honour at the seat of government. The moving offices were closed in Jammu on April 28 as per the Darbar Move, a century-old practice under which government functions six month each in the two capitals of the state. The government will function in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, till late October and then move to Jammu, the winter capital, in the first week of November.

 Governor’s secretariat, which had closed at Jammu on 28 April evening, reopened at the Raj Bhavan. Vohra went around the various wings of the Raj Bhavan and met the officers and staff of the governor’s secretariat. He advised all the functionaries to ensure cleanliness, efficiency and proper maintenance of the official records. He also directed time bound digitization of all important records and de-weeding of irrelevant papers. The Governor also went around the Raj Bhavan estate and directed assured readiness of the fire fighting system and proper upkeep of the gardens.

 Authorities had made all necessary arrangements, including security, to ensure smooth functioning of the offices in the Kashmir Valley, which has witnessed a spurt in militant activities, officials said. They said the summer capital has been given a face-lift ahead of the re-opening of the ‘move offices’.

The roads around and leading to the civil secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, are being renovated with laborers busy cleaning the pathways and painting the roadsides.

 Every year, the city gets a face-lift on the eve of re- opening of civil secretariat and other move offices. Besides, the government offices and quarters have been renovated and the street lights restored, the officials said.

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