Kerala High Court Halts Release of Justice K Hema Committee Report

The Kerala High Court has temporarily stayed the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report, which examined issues facing women in the Malayalam film industry. The stay order follows a plea challenging the State Information Commission's directive to release the report. Notices have been issued to relevant parties for their responses.

In a significant development, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday paused the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report for a week. The report delves into issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

Justice P M Manoj issued the stay order until July 31, following a petition that contested the State Information Commission's July 5 directive to publicize the report. The plea was filed by film producer Sajimon Parayil. Advocate Saiby Jose Kidangoor, representing the petitioner, confirmed the news.

The court has issued notices to the Kerala government, State Information Commission (SIC), and certain journalists to clarify their stance on the petition. The SIC had previously instructed the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) to release the information without compromising individual privacy.

Established in the wake of the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep, the committee aimed to address issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality within the Malayalam film industry. Despite being completed in 2019, the report's release has been delayed due to the sensitive nature of its content.

(With inputs from agencies.)