Suryanarayana Rao, J.

[1] The question for decision in this case is whether the natural mother of the minor illegitimate children could settle out of Court the claim of the minors against their putative father for maintenance ordered by the Court to be paid monthly under Section 411 of the Hyderabad Criminal Procedure Code corresponding to Section 488 of the Indian Code.

[2] The putative father's case is that subsequent to the order of maintenance passed against him in favour of the minor children, he had entered into a compromise with the mother of the minors, acting on their behalf by delivering to them a bull in full settlement of the claim for their future maintenance. On behalf of the minors it is contended that such a compromise is not binding on the minor children. It is admitted by the parties that the bull died some time ago and that its value is somewhere between Rs. 100/- to 150/-.

[3] Proceedings under Section 488 of the Criminal Procedure Code are not in the nature of criminal proceedings. They are really civil proceedings but dealt with summarily in a criminal Court for purpose of speedy disposal on grounds of convenience and social order. Where paternity is