Kerala HC Seeks State Response on Plea Challenging Kerala State Awards Declaration

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the State government on a petition filed by Lijeesh Mullezhath, a Malayalam Movie Director, who seeks to invalidate the announcement of the Kerala State Awards For Malayalam Films & Writings On Cinema 2022.

A single bench of Justice Basant Balaji has opted not to grant an immediate stay on the forthcoming Awards distribution scheduled for August 17, 2023. However, it listed the matter on August 11, i.e. before the Award distribution ceremony seeking State’s response.

Furthermore, the bench has directed the petitioner to include the Secretary of the Department of Culture as an additional respondent in the case.

Director Lijeesh asserts that the Awards’ declaration was tainted by partiality and nepotism exhibited by Ranjith, the Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.

The petitioner contends that subsequent to the announcement of the Awards on July 21, 2023, another Malayalam Movie Director, Vinayan of ‘Pathonpatham Nottaandu’, raised an allegation. Vinayan claimed to possess evidence, including voice recordings of Jury Members of the State Awards, indicating that the Chairman had improperly intervened in the Award selection process, resulting in biased and nepotistic outcomes.