Dangers of e-filing

e-filing of IT returns has been made mandatory for those having an annual income of Rs 5 lakh and above. But this is ridden with cybercrime. To my utter surprise, my PAN was found already registered when I initiated the process of e-filing with the help of a CA. Since I had never registered against my PAN at the e-filing site, it was not possible for me to answer secret questions which were required to be answered for knowing the password. As one of the other options, I made a request with all the required details to the income tax authorities at validate@incometaxindia, requesting them to inform me the password on my e-mail ID. But it proved to be of no avail. On calling 1800 4250 0025 of the Income Tax Department, the official refused to disclose the password to me. Now the only option left was to obtain digital signatures which cost at least Rs 1,500.

Chances are that many other people could be victims of this situation.

Dr RK Sarma, Faridabad

Monster of TET

Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) has become a headache for candidates. It has been made compulsory to enter the teaching profession at the school level. But it is a sad state of affairs that the TET paper set in the previous years has caused frustration among the examinees. This time, the students are not too willing to appear in this exam.

The Punjab Government should pay immediate attention towards this problem and take appropriate steps. The pass percentage which at present is 60% may be reduced to 50%. Also, the nature of questions in the question paper should be relevant to the syllabus studied by students during professional training.

Necessary steps must be taken in the interest of students. Moreover, the government should conduct this exam during vacations so that the teachers, who are in private jobs may not feel any harassment.

Surjit Arora, Moga

Vulgar entertainment

In a recent interview, veteran singer Asha Bhosle has rightly said, “Yeh gaane nahi gaaliyan hain.” In Bollywood, there was a time when films and songs reflected morality, decency, honesty, cultural values and social values. Now, however, the industry has become cheap and vulgar in order to be commercially more viable.

Pornstar-turned-actress Sunny Leone’s item number in ‘Shootout at Wadala’ left nothing for the imagination. Her performance alone could have be given the censor board’s A certificate. I fail to understand how skin show and cheap, double-meaning language can be tolerated by any sensible person. It is a shame that the trend of item songs is catching up, with even Bollywood’s leading actresses taking up such projects.

The dance moves in such songs are sexually provocative, to say the least. It is time that the Central Board of Film Certification became more stringent about the content of item songs and language used.

A court recently rightly observed that the Film Censor Board is not performing its duties in the interest of society. Offensive expressions must always be censored in all forms of communication — cinema, television and print media. Our Indian moral values must be maintained at all times in the entertainment industry.

Mahesh Kumar, via email

Rail link denied

The demand for a rail link between Rajpura and Chandigarh has been raised regularly. But the powerful lobby of private bus transporters has been preventing its feasibility. This 35-km rail track will connect most of the Malwa region of Punjab, parts of Haryana and Rajasthan. Since Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana, its urgency can well be understood. Moreover, with this, the amount of Rs 2,500 crore earmarked for the four-laning of Zirakpur-Bathinda road can be saved.

Er Mohinder Jain, Banur (Mohali)

HP needs trains

The recent Railway Budget has ignored Himachal Pradesh. The proposal to undertake a survey of two new lines from Una-Amb to Hoshiarpur and Hamirpur has no meaning at all. The foremost requirement is to provide rail connectivity to the industrial hubs in the state, such as Baddi and Parwanoo. Secondly, to boost the local economy and promote religious tourism, the Railway Minister should have extended the connectivity from the rail head of Una/Amb to Chintpurni, Jawalaji and Kangra. Subsequently, this line could have been extended to Manali via Mandi and finally to Leh. Another long-pending demand of the people — a train from Una to Haridwar — should also be considered.

VM Tandon, Panchkula

Just for one man

After talking about morals, character and responsibility for so many months, so many times, if someone goes to the extent of changing a law only to adjust one man in the Prime Minister's Office, it does not hold good.

Gavinder Kaur, via email

 

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