1. This second appeal is filed by the plaintiff in a suit, for damages on account of a defamatory statement by the first defendant and published by defendants 2 to 4. The trial court decreed the suit for payment of Rs. 5001/- with costs. The lower appellate court reversed the judgment and decree and dismissed the suit.

2. The plaintiff's case is as follows:

The plaintiff was working as Lay Secretary in the Medical College Hospital, Calicut from 1.7.76 to 15.1.1983. Thereafter he was transferred to Tirur Government Hospital as Lay Secretary and Treasurer. On 5.1.1984 a statement by the first defendant came prominently in the daily published by defendants 2 to 4. Anybody who read this news item would get the impression that the plaintiff is guilty of large scale misappropriation of Government money in connection with the purchase of goods for the hospital. The plaintiff is a person who is leading an honest life and the news item has tarnished his image in the eyes of the public. The plaintiff's demand for withdrawing such statements was not heeded to by the respondents.

3. The first defendant contended that he was the State Secretary of the Government Hospital Workers Union