1. The petitioner who was the husband of the 1st respondent and father of respondents 2 to 5, has come up in revision against the order of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Chengannur in Criminal Miscellaneous Petition No. 862/68 which arose out of miscellaneous case No. 54/62 of the same court enhancing the maintenance to be paid by the petitioner to the respondents 2 to 5 from Rs. 22/-to Rs. 50/- a month.

2. The respondents filed miscellaneous case No. 54/62 in the lower court under S.488 Cr. PC. for maintenance alleging that the petitioner neglected to maintain them. During the pendency of that petition the marriage relationship between the petitioner and the 1st respondent was dissolved through court and the claim of respondents 2 to 5 for maintenance to be paid by the petitioner was also settled on the basis of a compromise petition put in the lower court on 7 2 63. The petitioner and the 1st respondent allowed an order to be passed by the lower court granting maintenance to respondents 2 to 5 at the rate of Rs. 5-50 each every month beginning from 7 2 63. That order has been in force since then.

3. While so, the respondents filed the criminal miscellaneous petition ref