Kerala HC directs govt to submit 'uncensored' Hema Committee Report in sealed cover

Kochi: In a significant development, the Kerala High Court has directed the state government to submit the Justice Hema Committee Report in full including the redacted portions before it in a sealed cover.

This directive was issued as the court reviewed a petition seeking to initiate a criminal case based on recent revelations in the Hema Committee Report, published earlier this week.

The petition also requests that the state government provide the uncensored report to the Director General of Police (DGP) to begin criminal proceedings against those implicated in sexual crimes within the film industry.

"Tell us what actions you propose to take? If anyone wanted to file a complaint, they would have approached the police. The victims are vulnerable and unable to go to the police, which is why they spoke to the committee. What can be done now? Otherwise, all this effort will be futile," asked the division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S. Manu.

 The court also suo moto impleaded the Kerala State Women's Commission. The government has time until September 10 to submit the report. 

The Court noted that the report details instances of sexual harassment and exploitation of women within the Malayalam film industry. Many individuals involved have chosen to remain anonymous due to their vulnerability and reluctance to publicly disclose their experiences, the division bench observed.

The Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed the shocking harassment and sexual exploitation faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, sparked a political storm in Kerala on Tuesday.

While the opposition parties criticised the Left government for its silence and inaction over the past four years, despite receiving the report, the government affirmed its support for the victims.

The Congress-led UDF questioned whether the government had kept the report confidential to shield the accused and alleged the Pinarayi Vijayan government was siding with the 'hunters' rather than the hapless victims.

Coming down heavily on the government and Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan, the BJP charged they had failed to take any legal action against the accused despite receiving information about the crimes committed by the them.