THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the state government expressed its reluctance to take further action based on the Hema committee report, the State Human Rights Commission has directed the government to examine rights violations in the Malayalam film industry.
In the backdrop of a complaint, commission judicial member K Baijunath directed the chief secretary and the state police chief to go through the Hema committee report and the complaint in detail and come up with an explanation within two weeks on actions to be taken. In its order, the commission observed that going by the Hema committee report and the complaint, there were widespread rights violations in the sector. The order was issued based on a complaint from Kannur native V Devadas seeking action against those behind the rights violations mentioned in the report. The commission will consider the matter during its September sitting to be held in Kannur.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan has urged the state government to go for a comprehensive probe into the Hema committee report. In a letter to the chief minister and the minister for cultural affairs, Satheesan said a special probe team led by a woman IPS officer should be formed to probe the matter.
In his letter, the Congress leader pointed out that the report has revealed major accounts of criminal offences, including sexual exploitation and other bitter experiences, faced by women in the field. What has come out through the report are grave offences under the law. As per the judicial system, a criminal offence is termed as an action not just against an individual, but against the entire society. Therefore, penalising the culprits is required as per the system, he said in the letter.
He urged the government to maintain zero tolerance towards those who indulge in sexual violence against women and children. Sitting on a report, which has mentioned serious offences, including those that can attract Pocso charges, for such a long time amounts to challenging the legal system. As per CrPC section 154, once there’s a cognizable offence, the police should register an FIR, he said.
Senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan alleged that the state government was trying to sabotage actions on the report. In view of the actors’ body welcoming the report, the government should ideally take the next step. The Pinarayi government has been trying to create an impression of standing with the victims, while at the same time, it seems keen on protecting the predators.
FILM PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION WELCOMES HC MOVE
Kochi: The Kerala Film Producers’ Association stated that the association welcomed the Kerala High Court’s move directing the government to produce the Hema committee report in a sealed cover. “The association is aware that the publication of the report without disclosing the identi-ties of those involved has damaged the reputation of everyone in the Malayalam film industry. It is a fact that since the report was submitted, there has been an improvement in the industry,” the association said.
‘Sitting on Hema report was not expected from Left govt’
Kochi: Filmmaker Aashiq Abu has criticised the Kerala government for not taking the Hema committee report seriously and expecting the victims to file complaints to register cases and investigate. “We need to have better clarity about the issues mentioned in the report. The state government should take the initiative to probe the incidents discussed in the report. According to what I have understood, a government by the Left, which is expected to be women-supportive and stand by the survivors because of its political ideology, released the report only after pressure from all sides,” he told TNIE.
‘Pinarayi govt adopting contradictory stance’
Kasaragod: BJP state president K Surendran has strongly criticised the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, accusing it of adopting a contradictory stance by claiming to support women’s rights while simultaneously protecting the predators in the film industry. Speaking to reporters in Kasaragod, Surendran claimed that the government has been “playing hide and seek” with the report since its inception.