M. Srinivasan, C. J.—The respondents herein filed a petition under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on 25-2-1993 on the file of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hamirpur for maintenance. The first respondent is (he wife of the petitioner and respondents No. 2 to 4 are the children born out of the wedlock, The allegation of the 1st respondent was that her husband, petitioner herein had neglected and refused to maintain the respondents without any lawful excuse despite having sufficient means of income, whereas according to her she had no source of income to maintain herself and the children The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate found that the 1st respondent had no valid excuse to be away from the husband and as such she is not entitled to maintenance from him. However, he proceeded to grant maintenance in favour of the three children at the rate of Rs 250 per month The petitioner did not challenge that older as he was willing id pay maintenance to the children. The first respondent challenged the order by filing Criminal Revision No 1 of 1996 on the file of the Sessions Judge, Hamirpur The Sessions Judge has reversed the order of the Additional Chie