Judgment.- The accused has been convicted by the Ass1stant Sessions Judge, Anantapur, under section 366, Indian Penal Code and sentenced to simple imprisonment for two years. On Appeal, the Sessions Judge, Anantapur, confirmed both the conviction and the sentence. The accused has preferred this Criminal Revision against the Judgment of the Sessions Judge. In a Criminal Revision, it is not permissible to canvass the findings of fact arrived at by the Courts below. The facts found may, therefore, be accepted and briefly stated: The accused is a young Muslim. He was a country doctor and was treating the wife and daughter of one Venkayya, a resident of the village of Kanekal. During his v1sts to Venkayya’s house, he had become intimate with his daughter Venkamma aged 15 or 16. On or about the 7th of August, 1952, when she had gone out to answer calls of nature by the side of the house of the accused, he caught hold of her and had a forced sexual intercourse with her. On 10th August, 1952, when she again went by the side of his house for the same purpose, he persuaded her to go along with him and took her to Malyam village and from there to Kow-kuntla via., Gollapuram where he kept her in his uncle’s house untill she was restored back to the father through the good offices of that uncle on the 12th of August, 1952. On those facts, both the Courts found that the accused was guilty of an offence under section 366, Indian Penal Code. Mr. Kondiah, the learned counsel for the petitioner, contended that there is no clear or convincing evidence to establish that the girl is below 18 years and that, in any view, on the facts found, no case under section 366, Indian Penal Code, has been made out. Mr. Kondiah, the learned counsel for the petitioner, contended that there is no clear or convincing evidence to establish that the girl is below 18 years and that, in any view, on the facts found, no case under section 366, Indian Penal Code, has been made out. The relevant provisions of sections 366 and 361, Indian Penal Code, may be read: “Section 366: Whoever kidnaps or abducts any woman with intent that she may be compelled or knowing it to be likely that she will be compelled to marry any person against her will, or in order that she may be forced or seduced to illicit intercourse, or knowing it to be likely that she will be forced or seduced to illicit intercourse, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine ; and whoever, by means of criminal intimidation, as defined in this Code or of abuse of authority or any other method of compulsion, induces any woman to go from any place with intent that she may be, or knowing that it is likely that she will be, forced or seduced to illicit intercourse with another person shall also be punishable as aforesaid”. Section 361: “Whoever takes or entices any minor under 16 years of age if a male or under 18 years of age if a female, or any person of unsound mind, out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of such minor or person of unsound mind, without the consent of such guardian is said to kidnap such minor or person from lawful guardianship”. The material parts of the provisions applicable to the facts found and stated above lay down that a person, who kidnaps a female under 18 years of age to seduce her to illicit intercourse commits an offence under section 366, Indian Penal Code. Under section 361, kidnapping as defined is a substantial offence and the offence under section 366 is an aggravated form of that offence. The aggravated offence cons1sts of three ingredients, (i) Kidnapping, (ii) seducing, (iii) to illicit intercourse. It is, therefore, necessary to appreciate the connotation of the three ingredients and to ascertain whether the facts of the case are covered by them. As I have already stated, the offence of kidnapping a minor is defined by section 361, Indian Penal Code. The aggravated offence cons1sts of three ingredients, (i) Kidnapping, (ii) seducing, (iii) to illicit intercourse. It is, therefore, necessary to appreciate the connotation of the three ingredients and to ascertain whether the facts of the case are covered by them. As I have already stated, the offence of kidnapping a minor is defined by section 361, Indian Penal Code. The three conditions for the application of that section are (i) the victim must be a minor girl under 18 years of age; (ii) taking her or enticing her by the accused and (iii) such taking or enticing is out of the keeping of the lawful guardian. The first question, therefore, is whether Venkamma was a minor under 18 years at the time of the alleged offence. P.W.1 Venkayya, the father gave his daughter’s age as 12 at the time of the offence. P.W. 2 the girl, spoke to the same effect. The Lady Doctor, P.W. 8 testified that, at the time of her examination of the girl she was aged about 14 years. Exhibit P. 4 is the medical certificate given by her. The Ass1stant Sessions Judge, who examined her in Court, was of the view that she was a bit under-sized and that she would not be more than 16 or 17 years of age at the time she was examined. On that evidence, the learned Ass1stant Sessions Judge held that the girl could not have been more than 15 or 16 years old at the time of the alleged offence. On appeal, the learned Sessions Judge accepted the evidence of the doctor and the father and held that she could not have been more than fourteen years of age at the time of the medical examination in August, 1952. The learned counsel argued that another opportunity should be given to him to prove the age of the girl on the ground that the accused has now obtained a birth extract of the girl. I do not think I am justified to give at this stage another opportunity to the accused. If he was sincere in his attempts, he could have produced the necessary evidence in cither of the two Courts below. The finding of the Courts below is one of fact and there are no grounds for interference in revision. That the girl’s father is her lawful guardian admits of no doubt. If he was sincere in his attempts, he could have produced the necessary evidence in cither of the two Courts below. The finding of the Courts below is one of fact and there are no grounds for interference in revision. That the girl’s father is her lawful guardian admits of no doubt. Can it be said that she is not in his keeping when the accused took her with him ? It is argued that, at the point of time she was taken by the accused, she was not in the keeping of her father inasmuch as she left his house. The word “keeping” cannot be interpreted in such a narrow sense, for such an interpretation would frustrate the object of the section itself. It is not the physical presence in the precincts of the father’s house that matters but whether she was in fact under his guardianship. “Whether she left the house as the result of a pre-arranged plan, between her and the accused, or, whether she went to answer calls of nature, it cannot make any difference, for, in the former case, the accused by being a party to the arrangement took her from her father’s custody and, in the latter case, her leaving her father’s house for answering calls of nature cannot obviously make her any the less under the keeping of her father. Reliance is placed upon the decision of Mushtaq Ahmed, J., in Nura v. Rex1, wherein the learned Judge observed that where a minor girl voluntarily leaves the roof of her guardian and when out of his house, comes across another, who treats her with kindness, he cannot be held guilty under section 361, Indian Penal Code. This decision cannot help the accused for, on the facts of that case, it was found that the girl went out of the protection of her parents of her own accord and thereafter went with the accused. In Debaprosad Bose v. The King2, the learned Judges held that, where a girl left her house on account of the previous arrangement with the accused and met him in a garden from where he took her, the accused’s action amounted to taking her away from the keeping of her lawful guardian. In Debaprosad Bose v. The King2, the learned Judges held that, where a girl left her house on account of the previous arrangement with the accused and met him in a garden from where he took her, the accused’s action amounted to taking her away from the keeping of her lawful guardian. At page 408, the learned Judges observed: ” The mere fact that a minor leaves the protection of her guardian does not put her out of the guardian’s keeping. If, however, it is proved that a minor had abandoned her guardian with no intention of returning back, she cannot thereafter, be deemed to continue in the keeping of the guardian. What will be deemed to be sufficient to constitute an abandonment of a guardian by a minor girl depends on the facts of each particular case.........When under this arrangement, she was leaving the protection of her father, even if it be with the intention of not returning again, that will not be sufficient to put an end to the ties of guardianship. The importance and significance of the previous arrangement between the girl and the accused must not be overlooked. We have to consider the surrounding circumstances under which the incident took place and then come to a conclusion whether the girl would have left the father’s house had it not been for the previous arrangement with and the readiness of the accused to take her away, though not from the doorsteps of the father’s house but from some d1stance “. In the present case it is not possible tq hold that she is not under the guardianship of her father. In either contingency, namely, whether she went out to answer calls of nature, or whether she went to the house of the accused pursuant to a previous arrangement, she continued to be under the guardianship of her father. On the evidence, it is not possible to hold that she abandoned the guardianship of her father and, thereafter, the accused took her with him. It is next to be considered whether the accused took the minor or enticed her to go with him. It is contended that the accused did not taker her or entice her but she voluntarily went with him. There is an essential d1stinction between the two words” take “and” entice “. It is next to be considered whether the accused took the minor or enticed her to go with him. It is contended that the accused did not taker her or entice her but she voluntarily went with him. There is an essential d1stinction between the two words” take “and” entice “. The mental attitude of the minor is not of relevance in the case of taking. The word” take “means to cause to go, to escort or to get into possession. When the accused took the minor with him, whether she was willing or not, the act of taking was complete and the condition was satisfied. The word” entice “involves an idea of inducement by exciting hope or desire in the other. One does not entice another unless the latter attempted to do a thing, which she or he would not otherwise do. The juxtaposition of these two words makes it clear that the act of taking is complete when the accused takes her” with him or accompanies her in the, ordinary sense of the term, irrespective of her mental attitude. So, it is clear, that when the accused took the girl along with him, he was ‘taking ‘her out of her father’s custody within the meaning of the section Coming to the aggravated form of the offence, the question is whether the minor was kidnapped, in order that she may be seduced to illicit intercourse. That the object of taking the girl was for illicit intercourse cannot be doubted.. Illicit intercourse is intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married. But, it is argued that the word “seduced” in the section is used: in the sense of enticing a girl to part with her virtue for the first time and that, as the girl admitted that the accused had carnal knowledge of her even earlier, he could not thereafter seduce her to illicit intercourse. There is a conflict of view on the interpretation of the word “seduced” in the section. The dictionary meaning of the word “seduce” is to lead astray, to entice, to corrupt or to induce a woman, to perform an act of unchastity with oneself. The word can be used in two senses,, one wider and the other narrower. In the narrower sense, it may connote the first lapse from the path of virtue. The dictionary meaning of the word “seduce” is to lead astray, to entice, to corrupt or to induce a woman, to perform an act of unchastity with oneself. The word can be used in two senses,, one wider and the other narrower. In the narrower sense, it may connote the first lapse from the path of virtue. In the wider sense, it includes every device or persuasion, every word or act, which induces a girl to submit to illicit intercourse. Indeed, every illicit intercourse must be preceded by some overture on the part of the male. After the surrender of chastity for the first time, a girl may lead a life of rectitude. Can it be said that further acts of device or inducement to draw her from the path of rectitude are not acts of seduction ? If such a narrow meaning is given, the salutary provisions of section 361 should be confined only to the first lapse on the part of an innocent girl from the condition of purity and leave her to the mercy of unscrupulous persons. Therefore, though the words “seduction” and “illicit intercourse” are d1stinct, more emphasis should be Lald on the words; “illicit intercourse” rather than on the word “seduction”. Any act on the part of a person to lead a woman astray from the path of rectitude is seduction and if it is followed by intercourse, it will be seduction for illicit intercourse. The Court of Criminal Appeal in Rex v. Frederick Moon1, denned the word “seduction” found in section 17 of the Children Act, 1908. Under that section, it is provided that, if any person having the custody, charge or care of a. girl under the age of sixteen years causes or encourages the seduction or prostitution of that girl, he shall be guilty of misdemeanour. Seduction under that section is a. substantial offence, whereas under the Indian Penal Code kidnapping is a substantial offence and seduction for illicit intercourse is an aggravated form of it. Lawrence, J., held having regard to the scope of the section and the purpose behind it, that seduction in that Act has its ordinary sense of inducing a girl to part with her virtue for the first time. Lawrence, J., held having regard to the scope of the section and the purpose behind it, that seduction in that Act has its ordinary sense of inducing a girl to part with her virtue for the first time. The learned Judge himself realised that the word has two meanings and that in the wider sense, it also means inducing a girl to have carnal connection at any time or on any occasion. I do not think that the meaning attributed to the word, having regard to the scope of that Act, can be applied to a case under section 361, Indian Penal Code. Boys and Young, JJ., in Baijnath v. Emperor2, confined the scope of that word to its narrower meaning. The reason for their conclusion is found in the following observation: “The important question is whether the term” seduced to “can properly be applied only to that which leads to the first act of illicit intercourse, or whether it can be properly applied to that which precedes each subsequent act of illicit intercourse. The Oxford Dictionary defines” seduction “in this connection as” to induce a woman to surrender her chastity “which suggests at the outset that the term” seduction “can only apply properly to the first act of illicit intercourse for, once that act has been completed, the girl has surrendered her chastity. We would, therefore, hold that the term” seduction “can only properly be held applicable to the first act of illicit intercourse, unless there be proof of a return to chastity on the part of the girl meanwhile, or unless possibly there is an intention on the accused’s part that the girl should be seduced by some different man”. For the reasons already given by me, I regret my inability to confine the word to its narrow meaning. Indeed, the Oxford Dictionary itself gives meanings, which are wide enough to take in the larger connotation. Divatia, J.,in Lakshman Bala v. Emperor1, rejects this narrow interpretation. After pointing out the conflict of decisions, the learned Judge observed at page 190: “In my opinion, the term” seduce “is used in this section in the general sense of enticing or tempting and not in the limited sense of committing the first act of illicit intercourse. Divatia, J.,in Lakshman Bala v. Emperor1, rejects this narrow interpretation. After pointing out the conflict of decisions, the learned Judge observed at page 190: “In my opinion, the term” seduce “is used in this section in the general sense of enticing or tempting and not in the limited sense of committing the first act of illicit intercourse. The substantial offence in the section is the act of kidnapping or abduction and the intention or knowledge that the girl may be forced or seduced to illicit intercourse raises it to an aggravated form of the main offence of kidnapping or abduction and punishable with greater severity. I do not think that the Legislature had in mind, while enacting this section, that it was only when a girl was kidnapped with the intention or knowledge that she should surrender her chastity for the first time that kidnapping would become a more serious offence, while an act of kidnapping a girl even though avowedly for the purpose of having illicit intercourse with her would only amount to the simple offence of kidnapping, if there was previous intimacy with the girl. I think the material words in the section are” illicit intercourse “rather than” forced or seduced “. It is the illicit nature of the intercourse for which the kidnapping or abduction takes place that constitutes the aggravation of the offence and not the priority in point of time of such intercourse.” With great respect, I agree with the aforesaid observations: The same High Court in Emperor v. Ayubkhan Mirsultan and another2, expressed a similar view. The learned Judge stated at page 159: “The girl’s consent might always be revoked, and if it were revoked, force or a further seduction would be essential before an act of illicit intercourse could take place ; and even if it were not revoked, it is difficult to see how the act of illicit intercourse could take place without at least some overture, however slight, being made by the male person, which overture, however slight could properly be called a seduction to illicit intercourse”. I express my full accord with this view: Much to the same effect is the decision of the Madras High Court in Suppiah v. Emperor 3 . I express my full accord with this view: Much to the same effect is the decision of the Madras High Court in Suppiah v. Emperor 3 . When the decsion of Rex v. Frederick Moon4, was cited, the learned Judge, PandaLal, J., d1stinguished that decision on the ground that, in that case, the substantial offence was kidnapping or abduction. It is not necessary to muliply cases. But, it may be stated that the majority view is inclined to give a wider connotation to the word “seduced”. I would, therefore, hold, on a consideration of the wording of section 361 and in the light of the decisions cited, that the word “seduced” should be understood in a wider sense of inducing a girl to carnal connection at any time or on any occasion. If so understood, it will follow that the accused in the instant case, took her from lawful custody in order to seduce her to illicit intercourse and, therefore, committed an offence under section 361, Indian Penal Code. I cannot leave this case without observing that, on the facts found, the punishment meted out to the accused is very lenient. When a person leads astray an innocent girl, who is a minor, and takes her away from lawful custody and thereby ruins the life of that girl and brings infamy into the family, he deserves a more deterrent punishment. But, as both the Courts gave a lenient punishment and as the prosecution did not ask for enhancement of sentence, I do not think this is a. fit case for interference suo motu by me. The Criminal Revision Petition is dismissed. D.L.N. ------- Revision dismissed.