Times of India: T'puram: Wednesday, 21 August 2024.
The state govt will take
appropriate legal action and bring those responsible before the law if any
woman who testified before the Hema Committee comes forward and files a
complaint, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Tuesday.
"If any woman who provided testimony to the Justice Hema Committee is willing to come forward and file a complaint, the govt will take appropriate action. If anyone is found guilty, they will be brought before the law, no matter how high their position is. There should be no doubt about this," he said.
Vijayan said the govt has not kept the report in cold storage, but Justice Hema herself had written to the govt back in 2020, requesting that the report should not be released, as it contained references affecting the privacy of many individuals.
He said that due to the inability to share information that violates individuals' privacy, the chief information officer of the culture department rejected applications requesting a copy of the Hema Committee report under the Right to Information Act. The information commission noted that it was impractical to release the report while ensuring confidentiality. Overruling the 2020 order, the information commission directed the govt on July 7, 2024, to release the report, excluding parts that violate privacy under the RTI Act. As the govt was preparing to review and release the report, a producer approached the high court with an objection. The high court initially issued a stay order against the release, which was later vacated. "The govt has consistently stated that it has no objection to releasing the report," he said.
The CM said that the report itself says that the Hema Committee prepared it without the help of a stenographer with computer knowledge, as many of the disclosures made by witnesses before the committee were highly confidential. "Given these facts, what does it mean to say the govt suppressed it?" he asked.
The chief minister said that the govt will firmly address all forms of illegal and anti-women practices in the film industry. He said that the police have never compromised on registering cases and investigating complaints of harassment filed by actresses, recalling three recent instances when the police have registered cases on the basis of the complaints. He said that additionally, the police have also registered cases across the state for various complaints, including financial fraud, copyright infringement, and cyber harassment within the film industry. "The police have taken action on all complaints without bias," he said.
Regarding some of the recommendations made in the report, he said that due to the nature of acting as a skilled profession, there are limitations in implementing recommendations such as equal pay for men and women. "The salaries of professionals can vary greatly. While one might wish for the same salary for a professional actor and a beginner, practical obstacles exist. Moreover, imposing unnecessary guidelines under the guise of regulation is not beneficial for the creativity and skill in the film industry," he said.
Vijayan said that other serious recommendations in the report include preventing harmful practices like alcohol and drug abuse and sexual harassment. "Existing law enforcement agencies can effectively intervene in these matters. Decisions on issues like e-toilets, secure dressing rooms, and the safety of women travelling and staying for film-related work cannot be made by the govt alone. These will be discussed in the conclave addressing film industry issues," he said. However, the govt will consider the committee's recommendation to create the Kerala Cine Employers and Employees (Regulation) Act and establish a tribunal, he added.
"If any woman who provided testimony to the Justice Hema Committee is willing to come forward and file a complaint, the govt will take appropriate action. If anyone is found guilty, they will be brought before the law, no matter how high their position is. There should be no doubt about this," he said.
Vijayan said the govt has not kept the report in cold storage, but Justice Hema herself had written to the govt back in 2020, requesting that the report should not be released, as it contained references affecting the privacy of many individuals.
He said that due to the inability to share information that violates individuals' privacy, the chief information officer of the culture department rejected applications requesting a copy of the Hema Committee report under the Right to Information Act. The information commission noted that it was impractical to release the report while ensuring confidentiality. Overruling the 2020 order, the information commission directed the govt on July 7, 2024, to release the report, excluding parts that violate privacy under the RTI Act. As the govt was preparing to review and release the report, a producer approached the high court with an objection. The high court initially issued a stay order against the release, which was later vacated. "The govt has consistently stated that it has no objection to releasing the report," he said.
The CM said that the report itself says that the Hema Committee prepared it without the help of a stenographer with computer knowledge, as many of the disclosures made by witnesses before the committee were highly confidential. "Given these facts, what does it mean to say the govt suppressed it?" he asked.
The chief minister said that the govt will firmly address all forms of illegal and anti-women practices in the film industry. He said that the police have never compromised on registering cases and investigating complaints of harassment filed by actresses, recalling three recent instances when the police have registered cases on the basis of the complaints. He said that additionally, the police have also registered cases across the state for various complaints, including financial fraud, copyright infringement, and cyber harassment within the film industry. "The police have taken action on all complaints without bias," he said.
Regarding some of the recommendations made in the report, he said that due to the nature of acting as a skilled profession, there are limitations in implementing recommendations such as equal pay for men and women. "The salaries of professionals can vary greatly. While one might wish for the same salary for a professional actor and a beginner, practical obstacles exist. Moreover, imposing unnecessary guidelines under the guise of regulation is not beneficial for the creativity and skill in the film industry," he said.
Vijayan said that other serious recommendations in the report include preventing harmful practices like alcohol and drug abuse and sexual harassment. "Existing law enforcement agencies can effectively intervene in these matters. Decisions on issues like e-toilets, secure dressing rooms, and the safety of women travelling and staying for film-related work cannot be made by the govt alone. These will be discussed in the conclave addressing film industry issues," he said. However, the govt will consider the committee's recommendation to create the Kerala Cine Employers and Employees (Regulation) Act and establish a tribunal, he added.
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