SC issues notice to Kerala govt over plea challenging HC’s order to probe Hema committee report revelations- The Week

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Kerala government on a petition challenging the High Court’s direction to probe sexual harassment offences mentioned in the Hema committee report. The apex court will next hear the plea on November 19.

Hearing a plea by Malayalam film producer Sajimon Parayil, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale issued the notice to the state government and directed it to file a response before the next hearing. The petitioner, Sajimon Parayil, had earlier petitioned the Kerala High Court opposing the release of the Hema committee report. However, the HC dismissed the plea and ordered the release of a redacted version of the report, protecting the privacy of individuals.

In the plea, the film producer challenged the High Court’s order and said it cannot issue such a blanket direction while the peititoners themselves were disinclined to lodge FIRs. The film producer also argued the statements in the report cannot be considered as information.

Earlier this month, a special bench of the Kerala High Court directed Kerala police’s Special Investigation Team to probe offences revealed in the Hema committee report. The SIT reportedly informed the Court that none of the witnesses were ready to register FIRs.

Several Malayalam film personalities are facing sexual harassment charges following the release of the Hema committee report by the Kerala government. The committee was set up by the state government to study the exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema and the committee headed by Justice K. Hema handed over the report to the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in December 2019.

A partial report was released in August this year and following multiple sexual assault allegations, the Kerala government formed a SIT to probe them.