The Kerala government informed the High Court that 40 criminal cases emerged following the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. The report sparked numerous allegations against prominent figures. A proposed draft law aims to ensure fairness and equality in the industry while addressing multi-layered discrimination faced by women, particularly marginalized groups.
Kerala: The Kerala government informed the Kerala High Court today that 40 criminal cases have been registered following the public release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. This was disclosed during a hearing before a Special Bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha.
The Justice Hema Committee report, released in August 2023, sparked a series of allegations involving sexual harassment, rape, criminal intimidation, and other offenses against prominent figures, including actors and directors, in the Malayalam film industry. The report shed light on the systemic issues faced by women in the industry and prompted a wave of complaints.
Read Also: Supreme Court Grants Notional Promotion to Three Officers in Jharkhand Judicial Service
Advocate General of Kerala Gopalakrishna Kurup provided updates on the investigation. A note submitted by the AG revealed that:
- 35 cases have already been registered by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with probing complaints related to the report.
- 8 additional complaints were recently submitted to the Nodal Officer, appointed by the court to collate witness statements and complaints.
- Of these, 5 complaints have been converted into First Information Reports (FIRs), bringing the total number of FIRs to 40.
The court briefly discussed a proposed draft law titled “The Kerala Entertainment Industry (Equality and Empowerment) Act”, aimed at ensuring fairness and equality in the entertainment industry. This draft law focuses on:
- Fair hiring practices
- Equal wages and better working conditions
- Access to opportunities for all workers in the industry
The draft was part of a report submitted by Amicus Curiae Mitha Sudhindran, which included input from various stakeholders. The court emphasized the importance of adopting an intersectional approach to address multi-layered discrimination, especially for marginalized women.
“There is still a big gap … A Dalit woman faces discrimination at multiple levels, not just because she is a woman, but also due to her social status,”
the court noted.
The amicus proposed setting up the Kerala Entertainment Industry Regulatory Authority (KEIRA) to oversee industry practices, promote transparency, and centralize existing bodies like the Chalachithra Academy and the Kerala State Film Development Corporation. Additionally, the creation of the Kerala Entertainment Industry Tribunal (KEIT) was suggested to handle disputes, raise legal awareness, and address sexual harassment in the workplace.
The court permitted the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to join the matter as an impleaded party, despite opposition from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). Representing the WCC, Senior Counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued against the impleadment, stating, “The impleadment seems to suggest that this Court is effectively legislating.” However, the court clarified that its role was advisory, stating,
“What we give to the State is only a recommendation, and it’s you (State) who have to make the policy.”
The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on February 6, 2025.
Case Title: Jannath v State of Kerala & Other Cases
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
