( 1 ) BY the order dated October 7, 1996, petition under Section 20 of the Arbitration Act registered as Suit No. 1571/89 filed by respondent No. 1 was allowed and the disputes as raised in para 14 of the petition were referred to the sole arbitration of Shri Sashivansh Bahadur, Advocate and OMP No. 60/90 preferred under Sections 30,31 and 33 of the Arbitration Act by the appellant was dismissed by the learned Single Judge FAO (OS) No. 53/97 is against the former part while FAO (OS) No 52/97 is against the latter part of the aforesaid order. Since both these appeals arise out of the same order we propose to dispose them of by this common order.

( 2 ) SUIT No. 1571/89 was filed by respondent No. 1, inter alia, contending that it is carrying on business of giving on lease equipment, vehicles, etc. It leased out machinery/equipment described as Stanford Eder Hydraulic Excavator Model R. 825 LC to the appellant under a lease-agreement dated December 9, 1987, duly executed between respondent No. 1, on the one hand, and appellant and respondents 2 and 3 on the other hand on the terms and conditions mentioned therein. Lease rental amounting to Rs. 26,11,200. 00 was payabl