JUDGMENT :

K. BABU, J.

1. The Travancore Devaswom Board (‘the TDB’ for short), the plaintiff in O.S. No. 274/2000 on the file of the Munsiff’s Court, North Paravur, is the appellant. The respondent, defendant in the suit, was a Sub Group Officer of Naranam Sub Group of the TDB during the period 1994-95. The plaintiff instituted the Original Suit for realising a sum of Rs. 84,953.08/- the amount allegedly misappropriated by the defendant. According to the plaintiff, a crime was registered against the defendant by the Police as Crime No. 64/1997 of Eloor Police Station. Pursuant to the enquiry made against the defendant by the competent authority of the plaintiff, the defendant was dismissed from service with effect from 15.04.1998.

2. The defendant resisted the suit mainly on the ground that the suit is barred by limitation. The defendant also disputed the alleged liability.

3. During the trial, PW-1 was examined and Exts.A1 to A7 were marked on the side of the plaintiff. No evidence was adduced on the side of the defendant.

4. The Trial Court dismissed the suit holding that the plaint claim is barred by limitation. The plaintiff challenged the judgment and decree of the Trial Court befo