Pune, September 11: PUNE will soon have a fourth labour court. Acting on a proposal sent by the city’s Labour Law Practitioners Association, the Industrial Court of Maharashtra, Mumbai, has agreed to set up a labour court in addition to the existing three. The association on June 29 had sent a proposal to the president of the Industrial Court of Maharashtra in Mumbai, requesting him to allot additional labour courts in Pune — with the required staff strength — to address the increase in the number of cases.

The association in its proposal had referred to the most recent estimate taken, which showed that the first labour court has 1,966 matters, the second court has 1,715 matters while the third has 982 matters on its active file. They claimed the high rate of filing of new matters — especially those cases referred by the Labour Commissioner’s office — had led to bigger daily boards and pendency of matters, which necessitated the setting up of new courts.

“We had requested for the additional labour courts, which would serve to lessen the load on the existing courts as well as ensure speedy disposal of cases,” said Advocate Santosh Mhaske, the association president. The Industrial Courts took cognisance of the association’s demands and has sanctioned the setting up of Labour Court No 4, in accordance with the availability of funds. They received a letter to the effect on Tuesday.

The association in its proposal had also pointed out that the Government sanctioned the post of Pune Labour Court Secretary that had been vacant for the past several years. Acting on the request, the Industrial Court of Maharashtra recently appointed S V Phattapure from the Solapur Industrial Court.