JUSTICE WINS

Advocate Thomas Mannanalan practices law at Kottayam. He radiates dynamism. He sticks to ethics. He abhors injustice. He is the voice of the voiceless. He had no hesitation in fighting for the cause of a student who had nowhere to turn to. 

The student had been selected for admission to a self financing institution. The institution had conducted written test, group discussion and interview for admission earlier than institutions in the Government / University sector. He was offered admission after the interview and was asked to remit Rs.100000.00 to secure the admission. As he was not certain he would be selected for admission in institutions where the fee structure conformed to Government regulations he had remitted the amount that was demanded. He was asked to deposit his certificates with the institution.

Soon after the amount was remitted he was offered admission by an institution under the Government / University sector. As the fee demanded was much lower and since the institution had a good reputation he decided to take admission there.

His problems began at that point.

The self financing institution did not consent to let him leave. They refused to part with the certificates. He was advised that the certificates had already been dispatched to the University. But it was a fact that they had not completed the admission process. It was  also a fact that the certificates of all the students would be forwarded to the University only after the admission process was completed. When point was raised he was advised to call at the office the next day. It meant 150 KMs of unnecessary travel up and down. The certificates were returned the next day.  But the institution refused to return Rs. 100000.00, the amount that had been remitted.

The predicament was difficult. The amount was remitted by availing an Education Loan from a bank for higher studies at the institution. The bank had demanded repayment of the loan as the student was not studying at the institution. The student pleaded with the management for the return of Rs.100000.00 as the bank was after him. The management after an interval of time issued a cheque for Rs.75000.00. They had firmly refused to return the balance - Rs.25000.00 -despite repeated requests.

The student understood that legal intervention was necessary if he were to get back Rs. 25000.00.  He met Advocate Thomas Mannanalan and requested him to intervene. As there was no other option a suit was filed. The suit was decreed in favour of the Plaintiff.  The management went in appeal. The  appeal was disallowed.  The advocate fled the EP (Execution Petition) and on the orders of the honorable court, the defendant had remitted the decreed amount at the designated office for transmission to the student.

Advocate Thomas Mannanalan firmly believes in the maxim ‘The law is supreme’. He believes that justice should never be denied. He is focused when he fights injustice. It is people like him who make our country a better place to live.