JUDGMENT

Mitter and Macpherson, JJ. - Section 551 of the Criminal Procedure Code empowers a District Magistrate, upon complaint made on oath of the abduction or unlawful detention of a woman or of a female child under the age of 14 years, for any unlawful purpose, to make an order for the immediate restoration of such woman to her liberty, or of such female child to her husband, parent, guardian or other person having the lawful charge of such child, and to compel obedience with such order, using such force as may be necessary.

2. In pursuance of an order made under that section, the girl Luchminia was taken from the petitioner, who is the Superintendent of the Patna Zenana Mission, and made over to her mother Mahtabo.

3. The case comes before us in the exercise of our revisional powers on a rule to show cause why that order should not be set aside, and why the girl should not be restored to the charge of the petitioner, or such other order made as the facts of the case may warrant and justify.

4. The rule was granted mainly on the ground that the order was made without jurisdiction, as the facts found did not disclose "an unlawful detention for an unlawful purpose."

5. The complainants