Investigation Into Hema Committee Report Progressing Well: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court announced on Thursday that the investigation into various cases stemming from the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual assault and harassment is progressing well.

A Special Division Bench, comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and C.S. Sudha, made this statement after the Kerala government submitted a report detailing the progress of the probe into 26 FIRs related to the allegations.

During the hearing, the court appointed an amicus curiae to gather and coordinate reports, suggestions, and draft legislation addressing sexual harassment in the film industry. This development comes as part of ongoing petitions related to the findings of the Justice Hema Committee.

The Advocate General for the state informed the court that out of the 26 FIRs filed, five complainants have refused to cooperate with the investigation, while three have recanted their statements, declaring them untrue.

The government constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on August 25 to investigate the allegations made against several actors and directors after the report was released. The SIT was subsequently provided with the full unedited copy of the report by the High Court.

Additionally, the AG indicated that the state is drafting legislation to address sexual harassment in the film industry. The court acknowledged this effort, stating it would consider the proposed legislation as part of the ongoing discussions.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a party involved in the proceedings, informed the court that it plans to file a new petition. The court welcomed all suggestions, clarifying that it would not draft legislation itself but would provide input as needed.

With these updates, the Bench scheduled the next hearing for November 21, emphasizing the court’s commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation and legislative response to the issues of sexual harassment in the film industry.

The case continues to draw significant public attention as it addresses critical concerns about safety and accountability within the industry.

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