ORDER

1. All these appeals pertain to the scope of the arbitration clause under the two contracts entered into by the State of Andhra Pradesh, one with the appellant in CAs Nos. 4617-18 of 1990 and the other with the appellant in CAs Nos. 3933-34 of 1990. Both these contracts contain an arbitration clause (clause 73) which is identical. The material part of clause 73 is as follows :

"In case of any dispute or difference between the parties to the contract, either during the progress or after the completion of the works, or after determination, abandonment, or breach of the contract, as to the interpretation of the contract, or as to any matter or thing arising thereunder ... then either party shall forthwith give to the other notice of such dispute or difference and such dispute or difference shall be, and is hereby referred to the arbitration of ... and the award of such arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties unless contested by either party in a court of law .... Either party may, within a period which shall be fixed by the arbitrator, file before the arbitrator a statement of the case and also all the documents relating to, or having a bearing on the case .... The