K B Jandial
Ending Darbar Move and locating the Secretariat at one of the two capitals is as sensitive an issue as Article 370. Modi Govt abrogated Article 370 last year but solution to this contentious issue remained elusive. Unlike Article 370, it is not a constitutional issue but a political and conventional one. The pandemic coronavirus has broken the conventional ‘sanctity’ by ‘halting’ 148 year old feudal system of Darbar Move for the first time, forcing administrators and planners to explore a viable solution, harmonious to political and administrative necessities of J&K.
Technological intervention is one way-out to get rid of the archaic system of ferrying truckloads of thousands of office files during Darbar Move by digitizing files & other record. The process has been commenced in the Secretariat and on completion, likely by 2021, this outdated system would fade into history. Initially, the records and many articles were ferried in carts from Jammu on the road that was named as Banihal Cart Road (B.C. Road). Even as all good things come to an end, but Darbar Move continued for 148years. Some bold initiatives are needed to change it, or at least, reduce the moving employees by further decentralization of powers, including financial with stringent accountability, to divisional Heads of the Deptt. Virtual Secretariat would be an option.
Straight Talk
As per the well-established system, the Secretariat opens at Srinagar on the first Monday of May & at Jammu, on the first Monday of November. Over the years, every bi-annual shifting of the seat of the Govt evoked the usual narrative of “draining of public exchequer” and loss of nearly one month’s Govt work in a year, quite a substantial loss. While there has been near unanimity on doing away with Darbar Move but no proposal was ever formulated, much less the decision on this sensitive issue.
Despite national lockdown, now extended up to 3rd May, the UT Govt, has earlier, tried to stick to the schedule of Darbar Move but with a new concept of “as is where is”. Practically, almost all Kashmiri employees are in Kashmir, having rushed to their homes before lockdown became stringent and only a handful of senior officers are still in Jammu. Like elsewhere, all Govt offices including the Secretariat at winter capital are non-functional except the essential services and critical departments in the Secretariat with higher echelon of bureaucracy delivering whatever is requires. The earlier order had ‘divided’ the Secretariat to keep both Secretariats “functional” at Jammu & Srinagar which was once attempted way back in October 1987 by the then CM, Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
Now, the ‘halted’ Darbar would open at Srinagar on 15th June, 2020, if COVID-19 is contained by then. Earlier decision of opening at Srinagar on 4th May, 2020 was rightly modified as Coronavirus continues to haunt everyone and more so, in Kashmir which accounts for more than 83 % of the positive cases & 76 of 90 Red Zones of J&K.
Even after scrapping of special constitutional status including separate symbols and rights, the mental blocks continued to prevail between the regions, mainly due to different regional aspirations and related sentiments besides perceived hegemony of Kashmir. Even culturally, socially and linguistically the regions are broadly diverse even though, quite many of Kashmiri Muslims have made Jammu as their second home, while conversely it is not so for Jammuites in Srinagar. This is because neither this facility was ever extended to non-Muslim Jammuites in summer capital, nor they were ever keen to live in perceived hostile land.
Shifting of employees of Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa has been one significant factor that perennially facilitated inter-regional personal, social and trade relationship that has withstood all turbulences. It also gives push to the economy of both the Capital cities. As compared to summer capital, greater number of Kashmiri families, Ladakhis as well, descends on Jammu in winter and are visible everywhere in Jammu especially in Malls, showrooms, eating jaunts, coaching centres, cinema halls, gyms etc boosting local economy. The other important factor is the sentiments attached with the shifting of the Secretariat. There is a strong perception in both the regions that with shifting of Darbar Move, the Govt comes to their doorsteps, at least for six months that helps in redressing their multifarious problems pending at Secretariat level. For these gains, cost of Darbar Move is just peanuts.
Whatever Omar Abdullah might have felt on Darbar Move when he was CM, it had always been a political necessity to keep both principal regions politically relevant and satisfied even though Rajiv Gandhi as PM had ridiculed it when he along with Dr. Farooq Abdullah late winter night drove to Srinagar, encountering snowfall at different places on the highway in January, 1987. He had said that it was strange that while the people of Kashmir were suffering due to rigors of winter, the Govt was comfortably lodge in Jammu and asked Farooq to review it, unaware of the political significance of Jammu as winter capital.
While many political leaders had been talking loud about dispensing with Darbar Move but finding public support of then PM Rajiv Gandhi, Dr. Farooq Abdullah was the only CM who attempted to ‘lessen the burden of Darbar Move’ on October 7, 1987. But Jammu found the truncated Darbar Move against its interest and launched agitation led by Bar Association Jammu. Farooq had shifted 17 Departments to Jammu while permanently stationed other 20 Departments at Srinagar. Jammu suspected his political motive as Jammu relevant Industry Department was retained in Srinagar. The complete shutdown in Jammu region forced same Rajiv Gandhi to intervene and the order was rescinded on November 14, 1987. At NC bidding, Kashmir Bar Association too had launched a counter agitation for declaring Srinagar as a permanent Capital, reflection of Kashmir’s aspirations.
The Darbar Move has historical background. Jammu was ruled by Dogras while Kashmir remained under different non Kashmiri Rulers and came under the Sikh Rule in 1819. In was in only 1846 that Kashmir came under Dogra Rule of Jammu under the Treaty of Amritsar after the Sikhs lost to the Britishers and thus became the State of Jammu & Kashmir for the first time. For more than 25 years, Kashmir was administered from Jammu which happened to be the capital. But in 1872, Maharaja Ranbir Singh, (1857-1885), a great visionary, initiated a concept of Darbar Move. Some historians say that it was on the ‘advice’ of British Regent to address the grievances of Kashmiris who felt neglected at the hands of Dogra Rulers while many claim that it was out of Maharaja own volition. A widespread erroneous impression was created that it was done by the Maharaja to have best of both the worlds: away from the scorching heat of Jammu during summer and chilling cold of Kashmir during winter, which was just incidental.
End of Dogra monarchy with the dawn of independence took away many privileges, rights and even status from Jammu. Kashmir with nearly hundred percent Muslim area and a new ruling class became the political and economic focal point with Jammu relegated to a lower status. While Srinagar became the official capital of the State but the Darbar Move continued and Govt functioned from two Secretariats on six month basis.
It was only in1992 during President Rule with Garry Saxena as the Governor, Jammu was officially declared as Winter Capital in the face of Jammu agitation on regional discrimination on many matters. As a sequel to the agreement, the process of bifurcation of HODs on divisional level begun and now all departments stood divided with exception of hardly half a dozen which can’t be divided. With this the size of Darbar Move supposed to be reduced but it didn’t happen. Initially, it started with hardly a hundred odd persons remained small even after Independence but the number reached to about 5000 in 1987 with cost of about Rs3.50 crore and now to about 10000. Since perks have increased manifold since 1987 like Rs. 25000 as TMA, the cost must have run to Rs100 crore.
Jagmohan’s bold and momentous decision to take the Darbar to Srinagar in May 1990 in the face of terrorism in Kashmir and his equally brave aide Hamidullah Khan, brought some semblance in Govt functioning in summer capital which otherwise had collapsed due to indefinite strike by Govt employees of Kashmir. Jammu employees accepted the risk to their lives with commitment to the nation and went to Srinagar under heavy security bandobast and made Secretariat at Srinagar functional. But today’s situation with invisible deadly coronavirus is altogether different that necessitated Lt. Governor to defer Darbar move. The retention of “as is where is” in the modified order of April 17 is to facilitate joining of those Kashmiri employees who had already “rushed” to their homes in Kashmir without permission following lockdown. Mostly lower and middle rung employees would report at Srinagar Secretariat on May 4, 2020 without formal opening, only if restrictions on movement are lifted.
Earlier order of bifurcated Darbar was neither workable nor advisable as there is inequality in number of employees with Jammu share being less than 30%. It is a larger political issue that is beyond the realm of Darbar Move debate. Demand for Statutory Regional Councils with separate divisional cadre with limited functionaries like Lt. Governor, Chief Executive, CS and other top brass moving up and down should be examined by the Govt.
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