M.R.Mallick, J. - (1.) ALL these matters being interconnected have been taken up for hearing together and are disposed of by this common judgment as common questions of law and fact arise in all these 4 cases.
(2.) IN all these 4 cases the petitioners have asked for leave to revoke the authority of the Arbitrator, Mr. R. K. Bhatnagar, Respondent No.2. to act as Sole Arbitrator and for his removal from acting as such Sole Arbitrator and for appointment of any fit and proper person in place and stead of Mr. R. K. Bhatnagar. The facts which give rise to these petitions may be briefly stated as follows : In respect of 4 separate contracts for construction of the quarters in different places, entered into between the petitioner and the respondent, Indian Airlines, Separate Work Orders were issued sometimes in February, 1984. On the allegation by the respondent, Indian Airlines, that the petitioner had committed the breach of contract, the contracts had been rescinded and in the letter rescinding the contracts the respondent, Indian Airlines, claimed damages against the petitioners in respect of each of these contracts. Over such claim of the Indian Airlines the Regional Director of the Indian Airlines had requested their Managing Director to appoint a Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes in each of these 4 cases.
(3.) THE petitioners through their Advocate disputed the said cancellation of the contracts and also put forward their counter-claim.;