H. SHEENA BILLAVA Vs. SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF FINANCE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a plaintiff's appeal against the judgment and decree of the trial court dismissing his claim for payment of the amount claimed as reward.

(2.) FOR the purpose of convenience, the parties are referred to as they are referred to in the original suit.

(3.) THE plaintiff and his friend waited till 4.00 a.m. as there was no boat available to them to cross Padukere river and reach Malpe. At 5.00 a.m., they reached the Customs Office at Malpe. There was no light in the Customs Office and nobody was there and it was under lock and key. Then, the plaintiff's friend Diwakar left for his home. Thereafter, the plaintiff proceeded towards the residence of Vasudeva, a sepoy of customs office at Malpe. He reached there at 5.40 a.m. and informed the sepoy about the stranded vessel at Padukere. The sepoy told him that he would go the residence of the Customs Inspector, Malpe, and inform him about the stranded vessel. The plaintiff wanted to accompany him. But, the sepoy told the plaintiff that as the house of the customs inspector is at a distance of more than four kilometers, the plaintiff need not accompany him and that he would go on his bicycle. Thereafter, the plaintiff returned to his house at about 6.45 a.m.