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Synopsis

The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to submit the complete and unreacted 235-page report of the Justice K Hema Committee by September 9. The report has garnered significant attention for its damning revelations about sexual assault and misconduct within the Malayalam film industry. The report accuses several high-profile figures, igniting a wave of support from women across the industry who have come forward to share their experiences of harassment.

The High Court had ordered the full submission of the report on August 22, and the upcoming submission is expected to include statements, findings, and details of actions taken in relation to the cases identified in the report.

The Justice K. Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government in 2017, under the leadership of retired High Court judge Justice K. Hema, along with former IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari and veteran actress Hema, to examine the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Following the report's release on August 19, the Kerala government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior women police officers to handle the registered cases.

Furthermore, after the report’s publication, which revealed that many women in the industry were subjected to sexual demands and exploitation, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed, urging criminal proceedings against those responsible for sexual offences in the industry. The plea argues that the State has a duty to prosecute individuals involved in cognizable offences. In response, the Court directed the Kerala Government to submit the complete Justice Hema Committee Report, including any redacted sections, in a sealed cover. Additionally, the Court suo motu impleaded the Kerala State Women’s Commission in the case.

In a related development, the High Court constituted a special bench, comprising of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice C S Sudha, to address matters related to the Justice Hema Committee Report. The above mentioned PIL along with any other matters arising out of the report shall be heard by the Special Bench.

In another separate but related case, the Kerala High Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of renowned filmmaker Ranjith, accused of sexual harassment. Ranjith's plea hinged on a technical argument, asserting that the charges under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were made non-bailable only after 2013, while the alleged incident occurred in 2009.