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2. The Government of India decided to hold a trade fair to be known as Third Asian International Trade Fair, scheduled to be opened in November 1972. More than a hundred countries from the different parts of the world, invited to participate in the Fair, were assured of getting space, by the first week of October, 1972, in two huge structures named as Hall of Nations and Hall of Industries, so that they could in time furnish their exhibits with proper lighting and other infrastructure It was decided to entrust the construction of Hall of Nations and Hall of Industries through contractors and accordingly tenders were invited on 9.10.1971 by an open advertisement described by the parties as Notice Inviting Tenders (NIT in short). The appellant, Puri Construction (Pvt.) Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the contractor), submitted its tender and was allotted the work. The contractor completed the work within the stipulated period and the Fair opened in time The parties, however, disagreed as to the amount payable for the executed work and they seriously differed even about the terms relating to arbitration. According to the contractor, the arbitration matter was entirely governed by the Provisions of the Indian Arbitration Act, 1940, while it was asserted on behalf of the Union of India that it was only the Chief Engineer who was authorised to appoint a sole arbitrator under Clause 25 of the contractor (NIT) on receipt of a formal request by a party. The contractor filed before the Delhi High Court an application under Section 20 of the Arbitration Act on 30 5 1974 which was registered as Suit No. 329-A of 1974. By consent 'of the parties the High Court on 17-2-1975 referred the dispute to Sri M.K. Shivasubramaniam, Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department, to act as the sole arbitrator. The suit was accordingly disposed of.