After a six month-long recess, the Civil Secretariat offices in Srinagar reopened on Monday.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik was given aceremonial guard of honour by a contingent of the state’s armed police upon hisarrival at the secretariat.
Malik also spoke to the media on the occasion. Regarding theongoing Lok Sabha elections in the state, the Governor said it was the ElectionCommission of India that has the authority to decide on when these polls shouldbe held.
Replying to another question on the killing of a BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) leader in Anantnag district on Friday, Malik said securityof political workers in the state was being reviewed.
He said an inquiry is also being held on whether there was asecurity lapse that led to the killing.
Following an over 170 year-old practice set up by theautocratic Dogra Maharajas of the state, all top offices including those of theChief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, senior bureaucrats and others shuttle on asix-monthly basis between the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar.
The shifting of the civil secretariat offices is called the ‘Darbar move’ which is reminiscent of the Maharajas’ royal court that spent six months at each of the two capitals.