A Hyundai i10 car, reportedly driven by youngsters, overturned after it collided with a Honda City car on the road separating Industrial Area and Sector 29 in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

135 booked for traffic offences

Meanwhile, the traffic police booked 135 offenders and impounded three vehicles during its special drive against underage driving outside government run schools in various parts of the city. In the morning (from 6:30 to 8:30 am) 43 motorists were booked for underage driving and riding motorbikes or scooters without wearing helmets and six for not wearing seat belts. 28 schoolbus drivers were booked for not wearing uniforms with one for using a cellphone while driving. During the afternoon drive (from 12:30 to 1.30 pm) five underage drivers were booked, 18 motorists were issued traffic tickets for not wearing seat belts and 24 for riding motorbikes or scooters without wearing helmets. Rs 2,400 in fines were collected on the spot.

Parents blamed

Gurnam Singh, traffic marshal who was injured today, said in most of the cases he had come across he saw parents of underage drivers coming in defence of their wards when the latter were caught for traffic violations. “This practice is dangerous and is proving to be disastrous on the city’s roads. It has to be stopped”, he added.

Chandigarh, August 28
Cases of hacking into websites of the UT administration departments are becoming more frequent and sophisticated.

At a time when the world is connected through Internet, websites of different departments of the UT administration are a user’s nightmare. Chandigarh, which boasts of winning laurels at the national level in e-governance, seems to have done little to safeguard its websites. As a result, people have to come down to the departments even for their minor queries and other related matters, which could otherwise be just a click away. This despite the fact that almost all the departments have separate IT cells and have separate officials who are responsible to maintain the websites.

Sample this: About two months back, the official website of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) was hacked by a Pakistani national. The website displayed the national flag of our neighbouring state.

When the website was hacked in June this year, its homepage was replaced with <http://www.pakhaxors.com/>. It displayed the Pakistan national flag and objectionable language for the Chandigarh administration. Soon, the authorities closed down the website and put it under maintenance. The cyber crime cell of the UT Police was even investigating the matter after a complaint was forwarded to it by the CHB.

Crucial details regarding the ongoing projects, tenders and future plans of the CHB were removed from the website. The website was hacked after a month of digitising of records. The CHB also started digitising the property records in Chandigarh.

Since then, the static information related to the projects had been posted at a link in the main website of the UT administration but there is no mention of the financial part, which includes bids for various construction projects.

Similarly, the official website of the UT Estate Office was also corrupted about a year back and the data was transferred to the official website of the UT administration. However, the link on the UT administration’s official website provides very basic information without much details.

Moreover, the official website of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation hardly displays any helpful information. The reason being the delay in computerisation of records which is in progress for last three years.

The website hardly facilitates people in resolving their day-to-day problems. In the website, the authorities have included a long list of officials to whom one could approach for the redressal of grievances, but there is no provision through which one could download forms for getting water and sewerage connections or booking of community centres.

Sources in the National Informatics Centre say they have been asked to create all the websites which were earlier on private servers. However, the NIC is only responsible for creating websites which are later maintained by the staff of respective departments. Still, there are teams of the NIC that constantly monitor websites created by them. In case of any disruption, the NIC immediately sends alerts to the respective departments.

If one goes by the official website of the MC, Amrit Bolaria and Neelam Man Singh, who are nominated councillors, have no mention on the list of the nominated councillors. On the contrary, the list of nominated councillors mentions BJP councillor Rajesh Gupta as a nominated councillor. 

Chandigarh, August 28
Cases involving martial discord are steadily increasing in the city. The recent amendment in the matrimonial laws to add “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” or mutual consent to get a divorce has only added a new dimension and may lead to an increase in the number of couples parting ways as it is expected to further simplify the divorce process.

During the past six months, there has been a surge in the number of divorce cases filed under the Hindu Marriage Act. The number of cases pending in the district courts has risen from 641 in March this year to 695 in July. No less than 50 cases are filed every month in the district courts here.

There has also been a spurt in the number of cases of couples seeking divorce on grounds of non-compatibility and husbands accusing wives of “mental cruelty”.

In one such case, after a marriage lasting two years, the husband sought divorce in 2005 on grounds of mental cruelty. The wife was a well-placed government employee and was allegedly harassed by her husband at her place of work. The couple finally got divorced in 2009 and the wife declined alimony.

In another case, the wife had sought divorce from her husband in 2004 on charges of bigamy. However, the husband accused his wife of torturing him mentally. The couple finally parted in 2009.

Another woman, Rekha (named changed), was forced to enter into illicit relations with other men by her husband. When it became unbearable for her she filed for divorce, which her husband granted after much persuasion in 2007. 

Chandigarh, August 28
In a bid to prevent student leaders from misusing “excursion” trips to influence students to vote for their groups in the upcoming elections, Panjab University officials have prohibited such trips till September 5. The move follows an incident on Friday night in which PU officials forcibly stopped a bus on the campus carrying 60 students of the chemistry department from departing on such a trip.

With the code of conduct already enforced before election time, the authorities are trying to avert any untoward incident on the campus during the polls.

“We’ve decided not to permit any excursion trips till the elections are over. The vice chancellor has issued a circular on the ban to all departments,” said dean of students welfare Naval Kishore.

Often found to be an election gimmick by student leaders, excursion trips, movies and outings at discotheques have become an integral part of the election strategy by student organizations, although it is usually kept under wraps.

“As any kind of a mishap could take place during such trips during election time. This could result in a blame game with student parties accusing each other of using these trips to lure students. It would also unnecessarily spoil the atmosphere on the campus,” said SOPU leader Amit Bhatia.

“PU officials have needlessly created an issue out of the trip organised by chemistry department students. Students will continue to go even if there is a ban in place. Most of them don’t have any affiliation with any student organisation and go in their personal capacity. There have been such trips during the past when no permission was required,” said PUSU leader Simrandeep Dhillon. 

Chandigarh, August 28
With the number of those voting having dipped by almost 20 per cent in the past three years, student elections have failed to generate much enthusiasm among college students. In the absence of any major issues, the so-called “democratic exercise” aimed at giving students a voice is increasingly being used as a tool to gather sidekicks for university leaders.

“If we analyse the voting data submitted by various colleges for the last three years, we find the number of voters is declining year after year. The ratio is skewed as compared to the university. It’s only the college principals who can analyse and decide the viability of elections,” said higher education director Ajoy Sharma.

College principals ascribe the declining interest in elections to the failure of student leaders in addressing key issues.

“The so called elected leaders never bother to come to us to deal with any problem faced by students or to take up any initiative. However, they may come for seeking individual hostel allotments or other such motives. When students see no utility of their leaders elections become meaningless for them”, said AC Vaid, principal of SD College, Sector 32.

For BC Josan, on the other hand, student elections are nothing more than sheer nuisance. “They fight, disrupt discipline and what does a student get after the polls? They don’t address any issues facing students but are busy settling scores with each other. If you ask me student elections hold no meaning in colleges and they should be done away with,” he says.

Garbage strewn around the motor market at Mani Majra, Chandigarh, on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Two more test positive for swine flu

Meanwhile, a 56-year-old senior official in the state government department and a resident of Sector 4 has been tested positive for swine flu. The office of the patient admitted at Fortis, Mohali, is located in Sector 17, Chandigarh. District Health Officer, Dr Jagmal Singh, said that the patient was admitted at Fortis Hospital in Mohali on Monday last with heart ailments. However, the patient complained of symptoms of swine flu and a test confirmed it. 

Chandigarh, August 28
Having received complaints of outsiders participating in the massive rally held on the Panjab University south campus on Friday, the authorities today cautioned student leaders and informed them about the punishment laid down by the Lyngdoh Committee through a letter.

In the letter, PU authorities mentioned that student organisations must ensure that during election no outsider should be permitted to take part in the election process in any capacity. Any person, candidate, or member of the student organisation, violating this Lyngdoh guideline, should be subjected to disciplinary proceedings, in addition to stripping of the candidature. They must carry with them their identity cards for verification. Vehicles without university sticker thereon, will not be allowed to enter the university.”

The PU authorities have advised students to use only handmade election material not the printed one.

It was mentioned that photostat handmade material should not be used 
as well.

To check outsiders on the campus, a special drive has been launched. Students will be frisked at all entry gates. Sound systems at all three gates are being provided,” said a PU official. Gate number 1 (opposite PGI) will remain open between 8 am and 9.30 am. 

Expenses borne by the student organisations during election time have visibly exceeded Rs 5,000, the stipulated amount laid down as per the Lyngdoh recommendations. With most student parties having set up their election campaign desk at the PU campus now, the expense over a single help desk and tents is expected to go beyond the restricted amount. In addition to these, the trend of renting expensive cars for canvassing and then driving them around the campus could cost the student parties dearly.

NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE: CHAIRMAN

Moti Lal Jindal, chairman of SDDIE, says he has no such information about the student of other college thrown out of the hostel and if a warden has thrown out any student from the hostel strict action will be taken against her

Chandigarh, August 28
The larger-than-life-image of legendary Bollywood playback singer Mukesh swelled up in the minds of intrusive audience, as artistes of Legendary Mukesh Musical Arts and Cultural Society (LEMACS) paid musical tributes to the celebrated doyen of the filmy music at the Tagore Theatre here today.

Chief guest Anandji Shah remained the star attraction, as he doled out old hits like “Badi duur se aaye hain” and “Mera jeevan kora kagaz..”.

As many as 27 film songs depicting diverse moods and immortalised by Mukesh and Lataji were presented by over a dozen artistes with the best orchestral support under the direction of composer Vevel Sharma, which was also commended by Anandji. While female artistes, including Veenu Kautish, Uma Patial, Poorvi, Suman Rani and others, excelled, almost all male artistes failed to capture the emotional expression, melodic appeal.

Appreciable performances came from guest artistes, including IPS Sanjeev Kalra with a solo “Kahin duur jab” and Richa Singla in “Aaaja re ab..”, in which she eclipsed her duet partner and father-in-law ML Singla.

Rajesh Kaushal, Sachin Parkhi (11) Naresjh Jacob, Nirmal Marwah, Param Chandel, Jagan Choudhry, Swami Bhagwan and Pammi Hanspal presented solo and duet songs. Anandji specially complimented composer Vevel Sharma and his team for an immaculate orchestration, oldest participant Nirmal Marwah, Suman Rani and compeer Jainendera Singh of AIR amidst lofty applause.

Chandigarh, August 28
The treatment of squint in the eyes is possible at any age but it is always better if it is treated during childhood. However, many parents keep on delaying the treatment, which reduces the chances of optimum recovery.

Dr RK Bansal, Government Medical College and Hospital stated this, here today.

The Chandigarh Ophthalmological Society organised a two-day XXIII Annual Conference at GMCH. At the conference there was a live surgery session in which eminent surgeons as Professor Amar Agarwal of Agarwal Group of Hospitals, Chennai, Dr Mahipal Sachdev of Centre for Sight, New Delhi, Professor Jagat Ram, PGIMER, Chandigarh, and Bansal shared their surgical skills with the delegates.

Professor Amar Agarwal, who was first to implant a glued intraocular lens in India, operated on an aphakic patient and implanted an intraocular lens using a special glue. Sachdev implanted a new accommodative intraocular lens from Bausch and Lomb, Crystalens. Tomorrow the conference will have a free paper session, a session on video assisted skill transfer and a pot pourri session.

In fact when a person having a squint undergoes surgery before attaining the age of six there is greater chances that anatomical success is achieved and even binocular functioning is regained.

There are two types of squint cases - esotropia ie. when the squint is inward looking or exotropia ie, when the squint is inward looking . Such problems can be treated in childhood, said Bansal.

Zirakpur, August 28
Residents of Krishna Enclave today blocked the Dhakoli Road in protest of the lack of basic amenities, including power, water and poor condition of roads. More than 100 residents of the colony raised slogans against Powercom and state government. The road was blocked for two hours. The residents stated that the protest would continue until an official from the department assured them of a solution.

The residents of the colony further alleged that the electricity department employees had installed an old transformer in the area. They said that there was no water supply in the colony for the last two days. There was no electricity in the area today. More than 100 vehicles were stuck in the jam. While no official of the electricity department came, the police was present at the spot. 

Mohali, August 28
Encroachers in illegal meat market of Phase VI, who often force the enforcement staff of Mohali to beat a hasty retreat, today got in a tight situation when they found themselves sandwiched between the Mohali police and the Chandigarh police.

The situation arose when the Phase VI area councillor of Mohali, RP Sharma, had sought from the Mohali police to remove encroachers who had been squatting on public land.

The moment the Mohali police reached the scene, the encroachers shifted to the Chandigarh side. Immediately, the area councillor of the Chandigarh municipal corporation, Manjeet Singh Chauhan, was contacted to round up the encroachers.

The Chandigarh councillor responded and sent a police team to round up the encroachers. Seeing surrounded on both sides, the encroachers ran away from the spot.

Panchkula, August 28
The Shivalik Vikas Manch will stage a dharna outside the office of Haryana State Staff Selection Commission on September 6.The manch is protesting against the state government for not providing jobs to youths belonging to backward Shivalik areas.

Vijay Bansal, patron, Shivalik Vikas Manch, said more than 60,000 youths were given jobs in the state, but youths belonging to economically backward Shivalik areas, including Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar, were ignored. He said the state government had failed to set up institutions for higher studies in these districts. Around 12 such institutions were set up in the state, out of which, five had been set up in Rohtak district alone.

Bansal alleged that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had not announced any development scheme for these areas. 

Chandigarh, August 28
Striving hard to avoid any unwanted incident in this election season, DAV College, Sector 10, principal BC Josan today cancelled the scheduled open house as a part of disciplinary measures.

Taking lessons from last year when a verbal spat between two student groups during the open house led to a mass violence, the principal evaded the “ritual” to keep things in control.

“They have no major issue to discuss and the forum is misused for accusations and verbal war. This verbal spat leads to violence. In order to maintain decorum, the open house has been cancelled as a disciplinary measure. The students have also been discouraged from organising any support rally in the campus. No outsider is being allowed inside and campaigning is being kept under watch,” claimed Josan.

The move has aroused resentment amongst student leaders, as one of them claims, “As it is we have got very less time for campaigning and cancellation of the open house is a big setback. It is a forum where different parties discuss their stand on specific issue and make each other answerable in front of voters.”

Josan, however, dismisses the argument saying, “I have asked them to enlist issues but I am yet to get any reply. Individual case discussion and accusation cannot be made a part of such open forum. We have seen the outcome of verbal spat last year and will not take any chance this time.”

Interestingly, the principal has not only mooted a proposal for cancellation of election but has even brought all parties to one table to discuss selection of college president unanimously, though no decision has been taken so far.

“I met all student leaders once again today but they need some time to agree upon selecting one candidate unanimously. Things will be clear by Monday,” says Josan.

Chandigarh, August 28
To inculcate team spirit and generate interest in the water-borne sports and adventure activities, the NCC is undertaking a sailing expedition that was flagged-off from Sukhna Lake here yesterday.

The expedition will culminate on September 7 at Gobind Sagar, near Una in Himachal Pradesh.

A contingent of 66 personnel comprising 35 boys, 15 girl cadets and 16 staff members from No.1 Chandigarh NCC Naval Unit are participating in this 12-day long expedition.