Hema committee report on Malayalam film industry not withheld deliberately: Kerala CM Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 20 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that the Hema committee report on the Malayalam film industry had not been withheld deliberately and Justice Hema had requested that the parts of the report should not be released publicly as it contained sensitive personal information.

Vijayan was responding to media’s queries on the report on Tuesday. He was asked why the report was kept under wraps for four and a half years.

Speaking on this, the Kerala CM said that there has been no deliberate withholding. Justice Hema had requested that the parts of the Hema Committee report, which contained sensitive personal information should not be released publicly.

He said “The government has done what it can. It will strongly address illegal and misogynistic tendencies in the film industry. The government is determined to tackle these issues with resolve.”

Further, he added “If any of those who testified before the Hema Commission come forward with complaints, appropriate action will be taken. No matter how high-ranking, everyone will be held accountable before the law.”

On February 19, 2020, Justice Hema had sent a letter to the Principal Secretary of the Cultural Department, emphasizing that the report included confidential disclosures made by women from the film industry.

Justice Hema’s letter stated:

“We have been following the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in various decisions, in keeping the matter extra confidential. It would also take the liberty to alert you to follow these principles, before parting with the report to anybody in a routine manner.”

Due to the confidential nature of the information, the Chief Information Officer of the Cultural Department rejected applications for copies of the report under the Right to Information Act.

A media person appealed to the Information Commission in 2020, which ruled on October 22, 2020, that the report could not be released due to its confidential content.

The Information Commission initially ordered the report to be made public on July 7, 2024, overruling its previous decision.

The Commission recommended publishing the report with sections containing personal data omitted.

However, legal obstacles emerged as a prominent actress sought a stay on the report’s release. These legal hurdles were recently resolved, leading to the report’s release.

The government has followed every possible course of action. There is no opposition to the report being made public. The government remains committed to addressing any unlawful and anti-women tendencies in the film industry.

The chief minister was then asked why the police has not taken action despite receiving the report.

Vijyayan said the claim is a misrepresentation. Based on a letter from the Women’s Commission, the police requested the Cultural Department for a copy of the report. The response from the Additional Secretary of the Cultural Department reiterated the need for confidentiality as directed by Justice Hema.

The report clarified:

“Another difficulty faced by the Committee is in the preparation of this report without the help of a stenographer who has computer knowledge.”

“…..we wanted to prevent any information which was disclosed to the Committee from being leaked out and becoming a controversy, even before filing of the report before the government.”

“……we are forced to type this report by ourselves, though none of us knows professional typing. This, we find, a tedious task.”

Vijayan said the committee aimed to maintain confidentiality of testimonies given the sensitive nature and potential repercussions. Any claims that the government has deliberately withheld information are unfounded.

The government has taken action in all reported cases. No matter how high ranking, anyone guilty will be brought before the law, the chief minister said.