A special bench, consisting of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice C S Sudha, instructed the SIT established by the government to submit a report on the actions taken, though it declined to restrict media coverage.
Kerala: On Tuesday(10th Sept), the Kerala High Court criticized the state Government for its inaction and failure to register cases in response to the Justice Hema Committee report, which revealed sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.
A special bench, consisting of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice C S Sudha, instructed the SIT established by the government to submit a report on the actions taken, though it declined to restrict media coverage.
The court pointed out that the report had been submitted to the Government back in 2019 and remarked,
“We are primarily focused on the state’s inaction, including the failure to register FIRs… You have done nothing for 4 years except sit on the report.”
The court further questioned, “What measures are being taken to address the issues faced by women in society, not just in the film industry? The situation is dire, especially in a state like ours with a higher female population. This is not a minority issue for us… The SIT needs to investigate all these aspects.”
The Kerala Government established the Justice Hema Committee in 2017. The committee’s report, which was released to the public on August 19, 2024, details cases of harassment and exploitation of women within the Malayalam film industry.
After the report was made public, there have been a litany of allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against several actors and directors. The Pinarayi Vijayan-led government formed a seven-member SIT to probe the cases.
Earlier, during a hearing on a plea challenging a single judge’s decision to permit the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S Manu orally noted that the special five-judge bench would include women judges.
The report, made public on August 19, 2024, details instances of sexual exploitation in Mollywood and includes testimonies from Malayalam women actors about harassment and demands by male counterparts, including influential figures in the industry.
It also highlights the inadequate amenities provided for female actors, such as poor toilet facilities, changing rooms, and rest areas, in contrast to those available for male stars. The report mentions a ‘power group’ controlling various aspects of Malayalam cinema.
In response, the state government announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team on August 25, led by top police officers, to investigate the allegations. Notable figures named include actor Siddique, former general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), director Ranjith, actors Jayasurya, Nivin Pauly, and actor-politician Mukesh.
Following the report’s release, Siddique resigned from his AMMA position, and the organization subsequently dissolved its executive committee, with president Mohanlal also stepping down.
The Justice Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government in response to the 2017 actress assault case. Although the report was submitted in 2019, it was not made public, and no action was taken until the State Information Commission (SIC) ordered its release on July 6, 2024.
The Kerala High Court upheld this order on August 13.
