Although the state government had, some months back, promised to shift the courts to a new address in Bandra, it is yet to act on its promise.LLPA General Secretary Mukund Jambaulikar said the decision to launch a relay hunger -strike was taken at a Special General body meeting of the association held today.

Hearings of well above 1,500 cases unfold at the labour and industrial courts in the city. Since the lawyers kicked off their strike 16 days ago, proceedings at the 12 labour courts, eight industrial courts, three workmen compensation courts and two wage board courts at Arun Chambers, Tardeo, have ground to a complete halt, and court matters of nearly 5,000 litigants are in limbo.

However, State State LabourMinister Sabir Shaikh denied inaction, and said that the state government had issued a governmental resolution (GR) allotting an additional floor at the New Administrative Building at Bandra (East). In a meeting presided over by the Chief Secretary on Wednesday afternoon, the government also decided to allot 26,000 square meters for the courts at Bandra. Earlier, it was decided to grant only 18,000 square meters at the new premises, which, the striking lawyers had pointed out, was much lesser than the existing 26,000 metres at Arun Chambers. However, state government officials averred that it would take at least three months before the court premises could be entirely shifted.

Jambaulikar confirmed receiving the Government Resolution (GR), and added that members of the association would meet the Chief Secretary to discuss its modalities. The association would also press for an immediate shifting of the premises on Saturday itself, he added. A Special General body meeting of the LLPA will be held on Monday,October 5, which will chart the future course of action. Till then, the lawyers' decision to go on hunger strike stands, he stated.