The court inquired about the government's intentions regarding the issues highlighted by the committee and its stand on legal actions.
Published Aug 22, 2024 | 1:24 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 22, 2024 | 6:56 PM
Kerala High Court. (Supplied)
In a recent hearing, the Kerala High Court questioned the state government’s approach towards the Justice Hema Committee Report that exposed the harassment and exploitation faced by female actors in the Malayalam film industry.
The court raised several critical questions about the government’s plans and stance on the findings in the report. The Kerala government released the Justice Hema Committee Report on 19 August. The report delves deep into wage discrimination and sexual exploitation, exposing the hidden harassment in the Malayalam film industry. It also revealed the casting couch culture and the silent suffering of women in cinema. Leaving out some parts that reveal the actors’ personal information, the government has released a 233-page document.
While admitting a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the Justice Hema Committee Report on Thursday, 22 August, the court asserted, “‘If any cognizable offences are disclosed to the Committee, questions like “whether criminal action is necessary or not, how to protect these victims of sexual exploitation and what action can be taken against the perpetrators of the crime” are something that the Court is required to address.
The court inquired about the government’s intentions regarding the issues highlighted by the committee, questioning whether any legal actions would be initiated in response to the petition filed. The judges were concerned about the seriousness of the issues exposed by the report and whether the names of the witnesses had been provided to the government.
In response, the government stated that the names of the witnesses were confidential and had not been disclosed. The court directed the government to submit the full report in a sealed envelope for further examination.
The court also asked if the witnesses were willing to come forward with their testimonies. The government’s response clarified that the report was intended to analyse the challenges faced by women in the film industry and that there are limitations to initiating legal cases solely based on the report’s findings.
The government emphasised that the Hema Committee, established by the government, compiled the report with a guarantee of confidentiality for the witnesses. As such, any action based on the report would require witnesses to come forward with formal complaints.
The case continues to develop as the court awaits the full report and further clarifications from the government. The Committee was formed, after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep, to study issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema.
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