( 1 ) THESE two OPs. , are filed for setting aside the awards dated 10-8-1999 passed by the arbitrator Sri Justice T. N. C. Rangarajan, a former Judge of this Court. The parties are common to both these OPs. , the first respondent was awarded two contracts by the petitioners herein. (The details of which may not be necessary at this stage ). Suffice to state that with regard to both the contracts, the first respondent herein had earlier approached this Court for the appointment of an arbitrator by arbitration Application Nos. 11 and 8 of 1988 and this Court by a common order dated 13-3-1999 appointed the second respondent as an arbitrator in both the matters. Pursuant to the said orders of this court, the second respondent herein entered upon the arbitration and passed awards vide his letter dated TNCRJ/ac 26 dated 10-8-1999.

( 2 ) THESE two petitioners are filed with a prayer to set aside the above-referred award passed by the second respondent for various grounds indicated in the respective petitions.

( 3 ) AT the admission stage, a preliminary objection was raised by the first respondent saying that these two petitions purported to have been filed under Section