Kerala: V Muraleedharan slams CM Pinarayi for inaction on Hema committee report, as Supreme Court demands action

BJP leader V Muraleedharan on September 10 criticised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for not taking action on the Hema Commission report, submitted four-and-a-half years ago, which exposed widespread harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

Muraleedharan’s criticism comes after the Kerala High Court severely reprimanded the state government for its negligence and directed it to hand over the sealed report to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Muraleedharan said, “Kerala High Court has taken a very serious critical reference to the stand of the Kerala government in keeping the Hema Commission reports secret. The Hema Commission report was submitted almost four and a half years ago but the Kerala government chose not to act on it. The commission submitted the report which contains a lot of evidence provided by the people regarding the problems they faced.”

Muraleedharan added that anyone with self-respect would have resigned from his post in view of the Supreme Court’s criticism.

“The Supreme Court’s order amounts to an indictment of the failures of the Kerala Home Department, which is headed by the Chief Minister. Anyone with any self-respect would resign immediately. But the CM did not do so; instead he said that we are the only state where a commission has been appointed,” he said.

The Kerala High Court on September 10 sought to know why the state has not taken action on the revelations in the Hema Commission report. The court directed the state to hand over the sealed report to the Special Investigative Team (SIT).

“You have done nothing in four years other than participate in the Hema committee report,” the court said.

The court also asked the government to address broader issues affecting women in society, including pay equality and lack of basic amenities in the workplace.

In addition to the allegations of sexual harassment, the court also asked the SIT to investigate other issues such as pay equality, lack of basic facilities at the workplace, etc., that were brought to light in the Hema Commission report.

The State Secretary, Director General of Police, AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists), State Human Rights Commission are parties in the case. The court has posted the case for October 3.

Last month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment of women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It contains shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation and abuse of women professionals.

(with input from ANI)