Kerala High Court Demands Hema Committee Report on Mollywood Atrocities

The Kerala High Court has asked the state government to submit the confidential Hema Committee report on atrocities against women in the Malayalam film industry. The report, filed in 2019, contains serious allegations. The government has limitations in registering cases as the statements were recorded under confidentiality.

The Kerala High Court on Thursday requested the state government to submit the Hema Committee report on atrocities against women in the Malayalam film industry in a sealed cover.

Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S Manu, while hearing a PIL by Thiruvananthapuram resident Navas, acknowledged that the report contains serious allegations. The court has directed the government to file a counter affidavit and outline its next steps based on the report.

The government's lawyer indicated that registering a case is contingent on someone filing a complaint, as the report's statements were recorded under confidentiality. Despite being filed in 2019, the report's publication has been repeatedly delayed due to various legal challenges.

Originally formed after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep, the Hema Committee was tasked with studying issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema. The high court has also included the State Women's Commission in the matter and is pushing for the report to be made public and for possible criminal proceedings to begin based on its findings.

(With inputs from agencies.)