JUDGMENT :

C. HARI SHANKAR, J.

1. By order dated 11th October, 2019 in OMP (I) (Comm) 336/2019, OMP (I) (Comm) 337/2019 and order dated 14th October, 2019 in OMP (I) (Comm) 343/2019, a learned Single Judge of this Court referred the disputes, arising between the appellant and the respondent, to arbitration by an eminent retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir. The appellant is the claimant in the said arbitral proceedings, and the respondent before me is also the respondent therein. These appeals, under Section 37(2)(a) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“the 1996 Act”) impugn the order, dated 5th March, 2021, passed by the learned Arbitrator on applications, preferred before him by the respondent under Section 16 of the 1996 Act.

Factual Conspectus

2. The offer of the appellant, in response to the notice, dated 24th March, 2019, of the respondent, inviting tenders for certain civil works, was accepted by the respondent vide Letter of Acceptance dated 11th May, 2017. As required by the conditions stipulated in the notice inviting tender and the Lett