1. This is an appeal from a judgment of a learned single judge in a writ petition filed by the appellant for quashing an order passed by the Kerala State Electricity Board reducing him in rank as a Grade I Overseer.

2. The facts of the case may be stated as follows: The appellant was a Junior Engineer (Electrical), Chavara. A sum of Rs. 3186.81 collected by the Cashier, Sri Ramakrishna Pillai, on 191 1966 was entrusted with the peon Sri Divakaran on 20-1-1966 for remittance to the Treasury. A further sum of Rs. 5,611.66 received on 5-2-1966 was also entrusted with the same peon on 7 21966 for remittance to the treasury. These amounts were misappropriated by the peon. C C. No. 88 of 1966 on the file of the Additional First Class Magistrate, Karunagappally, was filed against the peon Divakaran and the Cashier Ramakrishna Pillai as 1st and 2nd accused respectively. The magistrate while acquitting the Cashier convicted the peon. The appellant was examined as Pw.l in the case and his conduct in not making effective supervision was adversely commented upon by the magistrate in the judgment. The appellant's case was that he came to know about the transaction of receipt of the t