ORDER

1. The appellants and the respondent herein entered into a written agreement on 17-8-1994 for execution of work for supplying and staking hand-broken (hard stone) ballast conforming to Northern Railway, Chief Engineers Circular No. 170/P.Way along cess/toe from km 1/0 to km 50/0 and in ballast depot at Mandor as per Northern Railway Standard Specifications and Special Tender Conditions in connection with JU-JSM BG Conversion Project. It appears disputes and differences arose between the parties in relation thereto as a result whereof the respondent herein filed an application under Section 20 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 for appointment of the arbitrator in terms of clause 64 of the agreement. A learned Single Judge

of the High Court allowed the said application and appointed Justice P.K. Bahri as the sole arbitrator. It was an ex parte order. Aggrieved, the appellantspreferred an appeal before the Division Bench of the High Court, which was dismissed. Against the said judgment and order, the appellants are in appeal before us.

2. Shri N.N. Goswami, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants urged that in view of clause 64 of the agreement which provides that only tw