(1.) In these two writ petitions a question of apprehension of bias of an arbitrator appointed under the provisions of S.7-B of the Indian Telegraph Act has been raised.
(2.) In these two writ petitions the petitioner prays for the appointment of any member of the Telephone Advisory Committee or Consultative Committee or any officer from any other Central Government Department or any Central Government Pleader as an arbitrator under S.7-B in cancellation of the appointment of the 3rd respondent who is the Deputy General Manager (Administration) and who has been appointed for conducting arbitration proceedings in these two cases.
(3.) Section 7-B of the Telegraph Act 1885 deals with arbitration of disputes including those arising between a person having a telephone and the department in connection with alleged excess billing of telephones. The said section reads as follows: