'Submit full Hema Committee report in sealed envelope': Kerala HC directs Kerala govt
On August 19, an abridged version—233 pages—of the report was made public
On August 19, an abridged version—233 pages—of the report was made public
On August 19, an abridged version—233 pages—of the report was made public
On August 19, an abridged version—233 pages—of the report was made public
The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to submit the complete Justice Hema Committee report in a sealed envelope. On August 19, the abridged version—comprising 233 pages—of the report was made public.
The court passed the order while hearing a PIL seeking to initiate criminal proceedings against the offenders named in the full report. The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government had constituted the Justice Hema Committee following the efforts of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), in 2017. The panel had submitted its report in 2019.
"If any cognizable offence is disclosed in the committee, whether a criminal action is necessary or not is to be decided by this court,” the division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S. Manu said.
“The government is as of now unable to proceed in this matter for the simple reason that no one has come forward with a complaint. But the fact remains that the report discloses sexual exploitation and harassment of women. How to protect these vulnerable women and what action can be taken against the perpetrators of the crime is something that the Court needs to address.
“Accordingly, we admit this writ petition and await government's stand on this. we also implead Kerala State Women's Commission suo moto in this matter. We also direct the government to make available the entire committee report in a sealed cover before this Court, only one copy."