Present: Garvin J.

VELUPILLAI v. SANMUGAM.

278-P. C. Point Pedro, 11,940.

    Maintenance-Arrears of maintenance-Time limit-Ordinance No. 19 of 1889.

Where an order for maintenance has been made under section 3 of the Maintenance Ordinance there is no limit either to the amount of arrears recoverable or the time within which such arrears may be recovered.

APPEAL from an order of the Police Magistrate of Point Pedro directing the issue a of distress warrant for the recovery of a sum of Rs. 3,730, being arrears of maintenance payable under an order made under section 3 of the Maintenance Ordinance. The order was made on June 22, 1906, on the application of Valliamma, the wife of the appellant, and was to the effect that the husband should pay maintenance at the rate of Rs. 20 per mensem. Shortly after the order, the appellant left for the Straits where he remained till the end of 1927. The Police Magistrate allowed the application authorizing the recovery of arrears at the rate of Rs. 10 per mensem for the wife, and a similar sum for the child.

H. V. Perera (with Gnanaprahasam).-The claim is for arrears of maintenance from June 21,