Omar Abdullah Chairs Final Jammu Cabinet Meeting Before Darbar Move to Srinagar

Key facts

• Cabinet meeting chaired by CM Omar Abdullah in Jammu on April 30.
• 2% DA approved for government employees, raising it from 58% to 60%.
• Three new grid stations cleared for construction.
• Re-designation of Medical Superintendents as Professors to increase PG seats.
• Sewerage treatment plants approved in Baramulla (Rs 37 crore) and Rajouri (Rs 24 crore).
• JKAS promotions in three ranks approved, orders after LG nod.
• Darbar Move to Srinagar begins May 4; offices in Jammu close April 30.

Final Cabinet Meeting in Jammu Before Summer Shift

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a cabinet meeting in Jammu on April 30, the last such gathering before the annual Darbar Move relocates the civil secretariat to Srinagar. The meeting cleared a raft of proposals spanning infrastructure, governance, and employee welfare, with decisions now subject to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's approval. The cabinet's approval of a 2% dearness allowance hike for government employees and pensioners raises the DA from 58% to 60%, providing immediate financial relief. All ministers and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo attended the meeting, which the CM's office described on X as focused on "key development initiatives and governance priorities."

Infrastructure and Health Sector Overhaul Approved

The cabinet greenlit the construction of three new grid stations to bolster power infrastructure, alongside sewerage treatment plants in Baramulla and Rajouri at estimated costs of Rs 37 crore and Rs 24 crore, respectively. In the health sector, the cabinet approved the re-designation of Medical Superintendents as Professors, Deputy Medical Superintendents as Associate Professors, and Assistant Medical Superintendents as Assistant Professors, integrating them into the Department of Hospital Administration. This restructuring is expected to increase postgraduate medical seats in Government Medical Colleges, addressing a long-standing shortage. Additionally, the cabinet cleared the creation of nine District Ayush Officers posts by reducing 11 Medical Officer positions, with eight DAOs to be deployed in districts established in 2006-07 and one in Pulwama.

Unified Cooperative Law and Asset Protection for Kashmiri Migrants

In a significant legal move, the cabinet approved merging the Jammu & Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act and the Jammu & Kashmir Self-Reliant Cooperatives Act into a single consolidated law governing cooperatives in the union territory. This unification aims to streamline regulatory oversight and reduce duplication. The cabinet also cleared a proposal to protect certain assets of Kashmiri migrants in Jammu, though specific details were not disclosed. Sources indicated the decision addresses long-standing demands for safeguarding property rights of displaced communities.

Administrative Promotions and Recruitment Reforms

The cabinet approved promotions for Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services officers across three ranks—Under Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, and Special Secretaries—though orders will be issued only after the Lieutenant Governor's approval. The regularization of lecturers in the Education Department was also sanctioned, providing job security to a large cohort of temporary faculty. New recruitment rules for State Motor Garages received cabinet nod, alongside the creation of a supernumerary post of District Judge. Various development works proposed by the Public Works Department, Housing and Urban Development Department, and Rural Development Department were cleared, though specifics were not enumerated.

Darbar Move Resumes After Four-Year Hiatus

The cabinet meeting marked the end of the winter session in Jammu, with the civil secretariat set to reopen in Srinagar on May 4. The traditional bi-annual Darbar Move, initiated in 1872 by Maharaja Gulab Singh, was suspended in 2021 by the Lieutenant Governor but resumed last year after cabinet approval in October 2025, as announced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. To facilitate the transition, the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation will operate buses for employees on May 1 and May 3. Each convoy will be supported by breakdown response systems, including cranes and standby buses, with police escorts along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Srinagar's roads are being beautified ahead of the move, with painting work on footpaths and dividers underway.

Traffic Management and Security Preparations in Srinagar

Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic Srinagar City, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, confirmed that an existing traffic plan will be implemented with minor modifications to handle the Darbar Move rush. "We hope that with people's cooperation, we will be able to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city," he said. The move involves relocating thousands of government employees and their families, placing significant strain on infrastructure. The resumption of the Darbar Move after a four-year gap underscores the administration's commitment to restoring pre-2021 practices, though logistical challenges remain.

Outlook: Pending Approvals and Implementation

All cabinet decisions are subject to the Lieutenant Governor's approval, a procedural step that could introduce delays. The DA hike, grid station construction, and cooperative law unification are expected to be implemented in the coming months, while the medical re-designation aims to address PG seat shortages by the next academic year. The Darbar Move itself will test the administration's capacity to manage large-scale logistical operations. With the next cabinet meeting scheduled in Srinagar, the focus shifts to executing the approved proposals and ensuring a smooth transition for employees and citizens alike.

The bottom line

• Omar Abdullah's cabinet cleared 15+ proposals in its final Jammu meeting before the Darbar Move to Srinagar.
• DA for government employees increased from 58% to 60%, benefiting thousands.
• Re-designation of medical superintendents as professors aims to increase PG medical seats.
• Two sewerage treatment plants approved at a combined cost of Rs 61 crore.
• JKAS promotions and lecturer regularization await LG approval.
• Darbar Move resumes after four-year hiatus, with traffic and beautification measures in place.