Implications for Hema Commission: Kerala HC special bench to hold first hearing on Tuesday

Kochi, Sep 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) It is a moment of reckoning for the Malayalam film industry where prominent figures are facing multiple allegations of sexual harassment after the release of the Justice Hema Commission report that exposed the appalling working conditions of women and their sexual exploitation. The newly constituted special bench of the Kerala High Court will hold its first hearing on Tuesday and will receive an uncensored copy of the report.

A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice A. Muhamad Mustaque on Thursday constituted a special bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha to now hear the petitions pertaining to all matters relating to the Malayalam film industry that have now come to light.

The Justice K Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government in 2017 and its report was submitted to the state government in 2019, but it was after a protracted legal battle that the report was finally released on August 19, leading to numerous former actresses coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment by various prominent figures from the industry. Based on the complaints, the Kerala Police have so far registered FIRs against 11 people, including 10 from the film industry. Those in the dock include actor-turned-CPI-M legislator Mukesh Madhavan, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and Prakash, and production heads Vichu and Noble.

Mukesh, Ranjith and Raju have since received compensation from the court.

Meanwhile, amid the political row triggered by the report’s revelations and mounting complaints, especially against sitting legislator Mukesh Madhavan, the Congress has alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government has shielded the accused and that was the reason for delaying the report’s release. The party has also alleged that though the Chief Information Commissioner, while approving the release of the Hema Commission report, had sought redaction of certain paragraphs, the Vijayan government has redacted more content than was ordered.

On Tuesday, the newly constituted court will be presented with the uncensored report of the Hema committee. This has led to great frustration in the already troubled film industry, especially at the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). The newly elected executive committee, headed by chairman Mohanlal, resigned when it emerged that the number of their members were on the list of accused.

It remains to be seen what measures will be taken.

Source: IANS

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