1. A police station is hardly the venue and the small hours after midnight hardly an auspicious time, for the resolution of what is essentially a civil dispute. A transaction entered into at such a place and at such a time, is likely to be viewed as susceptible to vitiating influences. That was what had happened in Kottayam town; and in the year 1970,

2. Those who feel vanquished by unjust official might are not always likely to give expression to their moral indignation by resort to the process of law. Quite often, people suffer in silence, such indignities and such losses. The plaintiff in the case, however, with commendable courage, sought to resort to a court of law for the vindication of his just claims. The courts below have granted him relief. Whether the judgments and decrees of the courts below are vitiated, so vitiated on any substantial question of law as to invite interference in the attenuated jurisdiction of a second appeal, is the matter arising for consideration in this case.

3. The salient facts relevant for the issue arising for decision in the second appeal may be briefly stated as follows:

4. The defendant is the appellant in the second appeal. He was a