The Kerala high court has given a strong suggestion for the state government to introduce a fresh legislation that aims to curb sexual abuse practices after the Hema Committee findings.
The Kerala High Court criticised the state government for not addressing the serious issues raised in the Justice Hema Committee Report. The court expressed its frustration on Tuesday, troubled by the government’s inaction on the report’s findings about sexual harassment and assault.
Kerala HC slams State Govt for taking zero action post Hema Committee report findings
The government was directed by the court to hand over the confidential report to the Special Investigation Team (SIT). In turn, the SIT was given the task to meticulously examine the report and respond with a thorough affidavit in a confidential envelope. The court, on the other hand, cautioned the investigative crew to maintain the personal privacy of individuals during their evaluation of the report.
The Kerala High Court ensured that the proceeding would not be done in a hurry. The court also highlighted that filing an FIR or not will decided after examining the report. The one lodging the complaint has the option to discontinue the process if they wish, according to the details made available.
The court also said, “Kerala has more women than men. This is a problem faced by the majority in the state. It’s not just a problem faced by women in cinema. The administration must respond urgently. The report details serious crimes (sic).”
The Kerala high court has put forth a suggestion to enact a law, specifically targeting to eliminate sexual harassment in work environments. The court said, “Something must be drafted with a feminist perspective. Just increasing female representation will not solve the issues (sic).”
The Malayalam film industry has been under the radar after the Hema committee report was made public. This report dug deep into the working conditions of women in the Malayalam industry bringing to light a number of allegations of sexual misconduct and assault. Currently, several renowned individuals from the Mollywood such as Mukesh, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Nivin Pauly, Maniyan Pillai Raju, together with directors like Ranjith and V. K. Prakash, plus production executives Vichu and Noble have FIRs lodged against them.
After recent events, Mohanlal decided to step down as the head of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). He was not alone in resigning; the entire 17-member executive committee also stepped down from the association. Now, two weeks after their resignation, a new association is expected to be formed soon.
