Plea In Kerala HC To Stay Release Of Report On Women’s Conditions In Film Industry

The Kerala High Court is set to hear a petition today challenging the release of the Justice K Hema Committee Report on women’s working conditions in the film industry.

The petition, filed by Malayalam film producer Sajimon Parayil, contests an order by the State Information Commission that mandates the disclosure of the report.

The case will be heard by Justice PM Manoj. The petition argues, “This order, if implemented, would adversely affect the film industry at large, compromising individuals’ privacy, breaching confidentiality, and potentially damaging the reputations and livelihoods of those within the industry, including those who provided their viewpoints and testimonials.”

In response to a 2017 petition by the ‘Women in Cinema Collective,’ the Kerala government established a committee to investigate issues faced by women in the film industry. The committee submitted its findings in 2019, but the government refused to make the report public, despite numerous Right to Information Act requests.

On July 5, the State Information Commission directed that portions of the Justice K Hema Committee report be disclosed.

However, the current petition argues that the ordered redactions are insufficient. It claims the Information Commission’s decision is contrary to public interest and infringes on the privacy of multiple individuals, including the petitioner.

“The disclosure would breach the confidentiality assured to those who provided testimony, potentially exposing them to retaliation and harassment,” the plea asserts.

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