JUDGMENT :

Dr. Yogendra Kumar Srivastava, J.

1. Heard Sri Arun Mishra, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners in the three connected writ petitions, learned Standing Counsel for the respondents and Sri Mahboob Ahmad, learned counsel for respondent nos.2 to 5.

2. All the three writ petitions relate to similar facts and raise common questions of law, therefore, with the consent of the counsel for the parties, the three petitions have been heard together and are being decided by means of a common judgment.

3. In all the three writ petitions, the principal relief sought is with regard to certain claims for payment of contractual amounts in terms of agreements said to have been executed between the parties.

4. Sri Mahboob Ahmad, learned counsel appearing for respondent nos.2 to 5 has raised objections with regard to the maintainability of the writ petition on the ground that the petitioners seek to enforce certain contractual rights and obligations for which the appropriate remedy is to approach the civil court, or if there is any dispute with regard to the terms of the agreement, then in that case, the remedy is to invoke the arbitration clause under the agreement. He submits that th