Arindam Mukherjee, J.

The appeal is at the instance of the defendants challenging a decree passed in a suit, inter alia, claiming damages. The suit was filed by the respondent/plaintiff.

2. The brief facts leading to filing of the above suit and the decree passed therein are as follows:-

(i) Pursuant to a tender notice dated 15th July, 2004 for engagement of Professional Letter Writer (in short 'PLW') at Kolkata GPO for a period of three years with effect from 1st September, 2004, the respondent/plaintiff emerged successful and was allotted the south verandah of the Kolkata GPO to operate as a PLW. The rent to be paid in advance for one year for such work by the respondent/plaintiff was Rs.12,340/-. The respondent/plaintiff was to operate from the south verandah of Kolkata GPO as PLW with four others.

(ii) The postal authorities, while the respondent/plaintiff was operating as PLW received a complaint from one Anil Sharma alleging misappropriation of Rs. 1300/- by the respondent/plaintiff from an insured letter which the said Anil Sharma had entrusted the respondent/plaintiff to write and sent.

(iii) After receiving the complaint the postal authorities terminated the permissio