Hema Committee report: Kerala High Court raps govt for inaction, asks it to hand over full report to SIT
The Kerala High Court has condemned the state government for failing to take action on the Hema Committee report, which highlights sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry.The court has ordered the government to hand over the complete Hema Committee report to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for further action.
Image credit:- thehindu
The Kerala High Court has strongly criticized the state government for its prolonged inaction regarding the Hema Committee report, which addresses serious issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. During a hearing on September 10, 2024, the court expressed alarm over the government's failure to act on the report, which was submitted to the police chief in February 2021 and has been available since December 2019. The report details various forms of sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination against women in the industry.
A special bench, comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and C.S. Sudha, directed the government to provide the entire unredacted report to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with investigating recent allegations. The court emphasized the need for a thorough review of the report to determine if any cognizable offenses warrant legal action. The judges remarked, "We are concerned about the inaction of the state government, including filing of FIRs," highlighting that the report contains facts that could lead to serious criminal charges.
The court's directive follows a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Payichara Navas, urging the government to initiate criminal proceedings against those named in the report. The bench also noted that the government had previously claimed the report was merely a narrative of incidents without actionable evidence, a stance the court challenged.
The Hema Committee, established in 2017, aimed to investigate issues affecting women in the film industry. Its findings, released on August 19, 2024, have sparked public outcry and led to renewed scrutiny of the industry, resulting in the dissolution of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) amid allegations against prominent figures.
The court's ruling underscores the urgency for the state to address systemic issues of gender-based violence and discrimination, asserting that the government's inaction is unacceptable. The SIT is now expected to report back on the actions taken regarding the report within two weeks, as the court prepares to assess the adequacy of the government's response.
