Jammu, Nov 8: As part of the bi-annual Durbar move, Jammu and Kashmir civil secretariat and other offices will reopen on Wednesday in Jammu, the winter capital of the state. Offices of Civil Secretariat, Raj Bhawan, State Legislature and DGP, which were moved from Srinagar to Jammu, will reopen amid tight security.
Prohibitory orders have also been imposed around the secretariat in view of the reports that several organizations plan to hold anti-government protest rallies in the city.
The practice of Durbar move was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape extreme weather conditions of Jammu during summer and harsh winter in Srinagar.
Over 5,300 employees and truck loads of records were shifted from Srinagar to Jammu for the Durbar move -- the seat of power. Over Rs 10 crore were spent for the shifting.
Colleges to remain closed
In view of students' protest against the Jammu and Kashmir government's new recruitment policy, authorities have decided to keep colleges closed here on Wednesday to ensure peaceful reopening of the Civil Secretariat in the winter capital.
"A decision was taken at the security meeting headed by the DGP that colleges shall remain close tomorrow to avoid traffic congestion," District Development Commissioner (DDC) Jammu Sanjeev Verma said.
There is normally huge rush on the road on the first day of Durbar reopening here, and a religious procession is also going to take place tomorrow, he said. "So we have asked the colleges to observe holiday tomorrow," Verma said.
Section 144 of CrPC has also been imposed around the Civil Secretariat. Student organizations have threatened to take out protest marches to the Civil Secretariat against the new recruitment policy under which a new government appointee will only get 50 per cent of the basic pay for two years without any allowances.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST