( 1 ) THE present appellant Maganbhai Chhotubhai Patel is the original defendant and husband of present respondent (original plaintiff) Maniben alias Kikiben alias Laxmiben.

( 2 ) THE appellant being aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 22 passed by the learned Civil Judge Senior Division Navsari. in Special Civil Suit No. 3 of 1970 awarding to the plaintiff-wife maintenance at the rate of Rs. 250. 00 per month from the date of the suit i. e. 2-4-1969 as also the arrears of maintenance that had accrued due till then within a period of two months from the date of the judgment i. e. 22-4-1975 has filed this appeal. The respondent-wife also being dissatisfied with the paltry amount of maintenance of Rs. 250. 00 per month has filed Cross-Objections claiming maintenance at the rate of Rs. 1 0 per month with arrears that had accrued due at the said rate. for the sake of convenience hereafter the appellant will be referred to as the defendant-husband and the respondent as the plaintiff-wife.

( 3 ) AT the outset I am constrained to say that the defendant-husband leaving the plaintiff-wife and his two minor children went to United States of America for further studies i