Union Minister V. Somanna visits Banaras Locomotive Works, praises achievements
Varanasi: Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, visited the Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) on January 24, 2025, to review its operations and achievements. He praised BLW’s contributions to locomotive production, technological advancements, and its role in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
On his arrival, General Manager Naresh Pal Singh welcomed the minister, who then toured various workshops, including the New Loco Frame Shop, Loco Assembly Shop, Traction Assembly Shop, Truck Machine Shop, and Loco Test Shop. Somanna also inspected an electric locomotive and sat in the driver’s cab to understand its technical features. To promote environmental awareness, he planted a sapling in the administrative building premises.
During a meeting at BLW’s Hall of Fame, a presentation was given by Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Sushil Kumar Srivastava, highlighting BLW’s achievements, technical expertise, and future plans. The General Manager presented a memento to the minister at the end of the session.
Somanna lauded BLW’s role in India’s locomotive industry, calling it a key contributor to the ‘Make in India - Make for the World’ initiative. He noted BLW’s success in exporting locomotives to 11 countries, including Mozambique, Sudan, and Malaysia. "BLW’s production system is a remarkable example of modern technology and high quality," he said, adding that the dedication of its workforce has brought global recognition to India.
Employee representatives, including the BLW Employees Council and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Association, submitted memorandums to the minister, who assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
General Manager Naresh Pal Singh described BLW as Indian Railways’ leading locomotive production unit, having manufactured over 10,500 locomotives. He called the minister’s visit an inspiration for the organization.
The event was attended by senior officials and department heads. Chief Mechanical Engineer (Production & Marketing) Suneel Kumar concluded the program with a vote of thanks.
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Allahabad HC sets aside maintenance order in favour of earning wife, says she didn't tell truth
Prayagraj (PTI): The Allahabad High Court has set aside a lower court order mandating a man to pay maintenance to his estranged wife, observing that she earns her living and did not reveal the true salary in her affidavit.
Justice Madan Pal Singh also allowed a criminal revision petition filed by the man, Ankit Saha.
"A perusal of the impugned judgment indicates that in the affidavit filed before the trial court, the opposite party herself admitted that she is a post-graduate and a web designer by qualification. She is working as a senior sales coordinator in a company and getting a salary of Rs 34,000 per month," the court said in the December 3 order.
"But in her cross-examination, she has admitted that she was earning Rs 36,000 per month. Such an amount for a wife who has no other liability cannot be said to be meagre; whereas the man has the responsibility of maintaining his aged parents and other social obligations," it observed.
The high court observed that the woman was not entitled to get any maintenance from her husband "as she is an earning lady and able to maintain herself".
The man's counsel argued in court that the estranged wife did not reveal the whole truth in the affidavit.
"She claimed herself to be an illiterate and unemployed woman. When the document filed by the man was shown to her before the trial court, she admitted her income during cross-examination. Thus, it is clear that she did not come before the trial court with clean hands," the counsel submitted.
The court, in its order, said, "Cases of those litigants who have no regard for the truth and those who indulge in suppressing material facts need to be thrown out of the court."
It impugned the lower court's February 17 judgment and order, passed by the principal judge of a family court in Gautam Buddh Nagar and allowed the criminal revision petition filed by the man.
