Kerala-based lawyer and activist Harish Vasudevan criticized the state government for its failure to take legal action against individuals implicated in sexual offenses as outlined in the Justice Hema Committee report.
The report, which investigated the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, was made public in a redacted form on August 19, despite having been submitted to the government in December 2019.
The report highlighted various issues within the industry, including sexual harassment, the absence of grievance redressal mechanisms, and inadequate facilities like toilets for women on film sets.
Harish questioned why it took nearly five years for the report to be released and why the state government, particularly Culture Minister Saji Cherian, has not yet directed the police to file cases based on its findings.
Harish referred to the 2013 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Lalita Kumari vs. Government of Uttar Pradesh, which mandates that the police must register a First Information Report (FIR) immediately upon receiving information about a cognizable offense, such as murder, rape, or kidnapping, without conducting a preliminary inquiry. Harish asked whether the guidelines established in this landmark case were being ignored in the context of the Hema Committee report.
The Justice Hema Committee's findings expose the rampant sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, where aspiring female actors are often pressured to engage in sexual activities with male colleagues, under the pretense that this is a prerequisite for success in the industry. The report also hints at potential sexual exploitation of minors, referring to one survivor as a "girl" instead of a "woman."
Harish questioned why, despite the serious nature of the crimes detailed in the report, no FIRs have been filed, and why the state government has delayed taking action. He also criticized the Culture Minister for not pushing for the release of the report earlier.
Echoing these concerns, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan accused the government of protecting those involved in these crimes by withholding the report for so long. He emphasized that it is the government's responsibility to act against those who have sexually exploited women and urged immediate action in response to the report's findings.