CHITRA VENKATARAMAN, J. :

These two OPs are preferred as against the award passed by the arbitrators dated 07.11.2000, one at the instance of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board in Transfer OP No. 450 of 2006 under Sections 30 and 33 read with Section 31 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 and Order 43 Rules 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the O.S. Rules to set aside the said award dated 07.11.2000 made by the second and third respondents - arbitrators in respect of the claims made by the first respondent and Transfer OP No. 467 of 2006 is filed under Sections 14(2) and 17 of the Arbitration Act, 1940, by the contractor to direct the arbitrators, namely, respondent Nos. 3 and 4 therein, to file the original award dated 07.11.2000 into court along with all the connected papers and pass a decree in terms of the award. The status of the parties in OP No. 450 of 2006 is referred to for the purpose of considering the rival contentions.

The TWAD Board challenges the award passed by the arbitrators on the ground of limitation that on the date the first respondent filed the claim before the arbitrators, the claim was barred by limitation and hence, the arbitrators had no authority or jurisdic