Hacked NGT website partially restored

It would take some more time to be fully operational due to the ongoing holidays

The website of National Green Tribunal, hacked a week ago, has been partially restored but would take a few more days to get fully operational with no plan to make any changes in its design.

According to NGT officials, National Informatics Centre (NIC) was working on the website but would take some more time to be fully operational due to the ongoing holidays.

"The NGT site is operational now, though not in entirety. We are in touch with the NIC. They are working on it. With Dussehra holidays on board, this might take some time," said an NGT official on condition of anonymity.

Asked if the authorities were mulling redesigning the website in view of the hacking episode, the official said "no, there is no such plan".

A case has been registered at the cyber cell of the Tilak Marg police station here.

The NGT website was hacked on October 3 evening by a group claiming it was an act of "revenge" against Indian army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control.

This is the second time after 2013 that this website has been hacked.

Litigants and lawyers, who access the website for daily orders and judgements, have been critical of the NGT officials for the problem.

Executive Member of NGT Bar Association, advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, said it is the fundamental duty of the State to protect the websites of courts and government institutions.

"There must be a proper mechanism to handle such issues. Government must investigate the matter through its cyber cell so that such incidents do not recur. This is the second time this has happened. Something must be done immediately," he said.