1. The appellant, a girl aged about 12 years, the daughter of a driver in the service of the 2nd respondent, the Kerala State Electricity Board, at Idukki sustained injuries due to a fall from a moving bus at about 9-15 a.m. on 12-10-1970. She was immediately rushed to the Chief Engineer's Colony Hospital, Idukki run by the 2nd respondent K.S.E. Board. The 1st respondent, the Medical Officer in charge of the Hospital, attended on the patient. His report Ext. BI(a) shows the nature of the injuries sustained by the appellant. She had a fracture on the left tibia besides other minor injuries. She was hospitalised and her injured leg was immobilised by a plaster cast extending from mid-thigh to the ankle. Ext. B2 dated 12-10-1970 shows the treatment given to the patient on her admission in the hospital. The wounds were sutured, a plaster cast was put and she was given penicillin injection and glucose saline drip On 14-10-1970 the patient complained of severe pain on the leg; she was given sedatives. Since the pain did not abate, she was discharged from the hospital on 15-10-1970 referring her case to the General Hospital, Ernakulam. The appellant was brought to the Lissie H