( 1. ) THIS is an appeal under section 47 of the Guardians and wards Act, 1890, from an order of the First Civil Judge, Class I, Jabalpur, dismissing the appellants application under section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, read with section 25 of the Guardians and Wards act.

( 2. ) RAJKUMAR Mahant (appellant) was married to Smt. Indra Kumari (respondent) in the year 1951. After four or five years, she went away from the matrimonial home and lived with her parents. However, in the year 1958, she returned to her husband and on August 9, 1959, she gave birth to twins a son and a daughter, by name Ravi Kumar and Shashibala respectively. In the year 1960, she again went away from the matrimonial home, along with the children, and since then she has been living with her father. On February 8, 1966, Rajkumar made an application under section 6 of the Hindu minority and Guardianship Act, read with section 25 of the Guardians and wards Act, claiming custody of Ravikumar and Shashibala, inter alia alleging that he is the natural guardian of the children ; that Smt. Indra Kumari deserted him ; and that he was not permitted to meet the children. The application was