These four Regular First Appeals arise out of the common judgment
and decree dated 31.3.2011 passed by the Court of the Sub Judge, Ernakulam, in
O.S. Nos.343 of 2009, 341 of 2009, 342 of 2009, and 232 of 2009. Since the parties,
pleadings, evidence, and issues involved in all the suits are substantially the
same, the suits were jointly tried, treating O.S. No.343 of 2009 as the leading case.
Hence, these appeals are also disposed of by this common judgment.
2. The appellant is the defendant in all the suits. The respondents,
who are the respective plaintiffs, instituted the above suits for the realisation of
amounts allegedly covered by different cheques issued by the defendants
towards the refund of amounts paid by them in connection with overseas
employment arranged through Global Employment Consultancy (GEC).
