ANI
The report highlighted that 26 FIRs were registered in connection with the disclosure of the Hema Committee report. However, the court was informed that five complainants have refused to cooperate with the investigation, and three others have withdrawn their statements. Meanwhile, the Women’s Collective (WCC) announced that it would submit its own draft proposal for legislation to the court.
The Kerala High Court has appointed lawyer Meetha Sudheendran as amicus curiae to coordinate, report, propose and draft legislation to address issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Amicus curiae means friend of the court in Latin. Refers to a person or group who is not directly involved in the case, but who provides expertise, advice or information to assist the court in making a decision. The decision was taken by a special division bench of Justices AK Jaishankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha while considering the report of the Hema Committee, which was set up to investigate issues related to safety and exploitation of women in the film industry. The court said that if the state government finalizes a draft law, it will be considered for approval.
The state government informed the court that it is in the process of preparing draft legislation to address the concerns raised regarding the safety and well-being of women in the film industry. During the hearing, the court also reviewed the investigation progress report submitted by the government. The report highlighted that 26 FIRs were registered in connection with the disclosure of the Hema Committee report. However, the court was informed that five complainants have refused to cooperate with the investigation, and three others have withdrawn their statements. Meanwhile, the Women’s Collective (WCC) announced that it would submit its own draft proposal for legislation to the court.
The court acknowledged the ongoing progress of the investigation and stressed the need for effective legal measures to protect women in the film industry. Further hearings are expected as the draft law and investigation continue. The Hema Committee was formed in 2017 following a petition by the Women in Cinema Collective to investigate issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry.
