(RAMAPRASADA RAO J.)

1. The State of Madras represented by the District Collector of Ramanathapuram at Madurai, is the appellant. The respondent-plaintiff filed the suit against the appellant-defendant for the recovery of a sum of Rs. 18,845/= being the sum payable, according to the plaintiff, by the defendant in relation to services rendered and work done by the plaintiff as a contractor in the matter of the construction of a bridge on the highway at 10/5 mile from Madurai to Tondi. Under Ex. B.8, dated 25th February, 1956 a contract was entered into between the plaintiff and the defendant in the matter of the construction of the various projects. This contract attracted the Madras Detailed Standard Specification Rules. The case of the plaintiff is that the site for construction of the aforesaid project was handed over to him only on 7th March 1956. According to the plaintiff he officers of the Engineering Department, who were in charge of the supervision work, took a hostile attitude against him from the very beginning Under Ex. A.6, 23rd May, 1956, the execution of the contract was stopped Under Ex. A.8 dated 21st June, 1956 the Divisional Engineer asked the plaintiff