Hema Committee Report: Government mulls legal options amid court directive

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is exploring legal options following the high court's directive to submit the uncensored version of Justice Hema Committee report, including its transcripts. The court has mandated the production of the entire report along with the attached documents while ensuring they are not released to the public.

The government is concerned about the report reaching the court as it contains sensitive personal information, prompting rigorous legal scrutiny at all levels. The government has directed the Secretary of the Department of Cultural Affairs to provide the information requested by the court after getting a copy of the judgment.

It is anticipated that the undisclosed sections of the report, as well as the depositions, may contain references to specific individuals. However, Culture Minister Saji Cherian clarified that the names of prominent figures were not publicly read out. When the report was unofficially examined by the Legal Department, no transcripts were provided. It has been reported that the document is currently held within the Department of Culture.

The government is aware of the potential repercussions if remarks concerning high-profile individuals are made public. At the same time, the government is keen to avoid any criticism suggesting it has failed to comply with the court order. While the government maintains that it is acting in accordance with the court's instructions, it does not support the notion of casting blame on the entire film industry based on the report. 

In addition to the report, the Justice Hema Committee had submitted two bundles of transcripts and annexures to the Chief Minister, who subsequently handed them over to the Culture Department. Initially, the government had taken the stance that the report should not be released due to its inclusion of personal information and had even conducted meetings with representatives from the film industry.

The report’s main recommendations were made public on the day of the first meeting. However, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has since asserted that discussing the matter without releasing the full report is futile.