Jammu, Oct 24: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (NPP) has approached the State High Court seeking quashment of the Government order announcing official annual Durbar move to the winter capital of the State.
 In the petition, filed by NPP State President and Legislator Balwant Singh Mankotia, it has been pleaded that the Government be directed not to shift entire official record of the civil secretariat to Jammu and instead only the record pertaining to Jammu region be shifted.
 The petitioner has challenged the Government order No 1183-GAD of 2011 dated October 10, 2011 which pertains to shifting of official record, material, files pertaining to Kashmir Division.
 The petitioner has further pleaded for a direction to the Chief Secretary not to shift office records pertaining to Jammu Division to Civil Secretariat Srinagar from Jammu and vice versa as has been the practice in the State.
 Giving a historical perspective of the Durbar Move, the petitioner has argued that the practice is “irrelevant” in the present day circumstances.
 “Jammu and Kashmir State was founded by the Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1846 under the Amritsar Treaty. In  1872 , Maharaja Ranbir Singh decided to hold Durbar at Srinagar during summer for six months and during winter at Jammu for the remaining six months”, the petitioner submitted.
 He argued that the decision was in the interest of the people of the two provinces. “On October 26, 1947 Maharaja Hari Singh signed instrument of Accession with Union of India which was accepted by the then Governor General Lord Mount Batten on October 27, 1947. Thus J&K State becomes an integral part of India. The practice of Durbar Move continued even after establishment of democratic system in the State much to the disadvantage of the residents of the State”.
 He submitted that the Civil Secretariat moves to Jammu in winter whereas people are left to suffer in the Valley and Ladakh without any accessibility to the Government. Similarly during summer the secretariat moves to Srinagar leaving the residents of Jammu Province to suffer without any accessibility to the Government.
 “Buildings of Secretariat are in working condition both at Jammu and Srinagar and offices can be made functional during the whole year”, he added.
 In the petition it has been further stated that the State High Court has already provided a workable model in this respect. “The case files pertaining to Kashmir and Jammu Province are maintained and heard at Srinagar and Jammu Wings of the High Court. The Judges only move from one to other wing. The practice of Durbar Move involves about Rs 300 crores every year. This public money can be saved and spend for better use”.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST