applicant. Pursuant to that demand, the Railway constituted an Arbitral Tribunal consisting of three members. According to the petitioner, though the Tribunal was constituted on 26.5.2006, no progress was being made even after lapse of 10 months and conflict of interest appears to exist regarding Presiding Arbitrator M.J.J.Jayaraj, Deputy Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer (Constructions), Southern Railway, Chennai. The applicant approached the Tribunal by petition dated 4.4.2007 (Annexure A2) and requested the Presiding Arbitrator to recuse himself from the proceedings of arbitration as far as the above agreement is concerned since the Presiding Officer in his present occupation as Deputy FAO & CAO in the construction wing of the Southern Railway will have had occasion to deal with the file officially in the past and would also deal in future and therefore it was apprehended that an impartial view will not be possible if the Presiding Officer continues in the panel. Through Annexure A2 the petitioner had raised additional claims also for sum of Rs.73,693/-. Later by further petitions the claims were revised and as per the revised claim, the total claim stands to Rs.1,22,45,126.79. By Annexure A3 dated 9.6.2007 the applicant requested the railways to constitute an independent Arbitrator
