Kerala High Court Stays Release Of Hema Commission Report (image: @tdanil)

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed the release of the Justice K Hema Committee Report. Hearing the petition submitted by Malayalam film producer Sajimon Parayil, Justice PM Manoj halted the release of the report for a period of one week.

After five-long years, the report was scheduled to release today. On July 5, the Kerala State Information Commission (SIC) ordered the Kerala government to release the report and instructed that no information should be withheld except what is prohibited under the RTI Act. Though actual reports span around 300 pages, a redacted version of the report, after omitting 83 pages, has been decided to handed over.

In the petition, Parayil stated that the privacy of the individuals in the film industry would be violated with the report’s release.

Also Read | What Is Hema Committee Report

“The disclosure would breach the confidentiality assured to those who provided testimony, potentially exposing them to retaliation and harassment,” the Bar and Bench quotes as the plea is stating.

It might even endanger those who share the information on the film industry, petitioner argued.

The plea further stated that it is against public interest and violative of the right to the privacy of various persons including Parayil. “It affects my right to privacy. Tomorrow if something happens… I was a scapegoat in this, my name was dragged into it,” the Bar and Bench quotes as the Parayil’s council saying.

Meanwhile, Standing Counsel for the State Information Commission (SIC) and the Government Pleader appearing for the State questioned Parayil’s move and argued that he merely holds private interest.

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Justice Hema Commission was constituted to look into the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The commission was formulated after the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) members met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the wake of the 2017 actress assault incident. Helmed by retired Justice K Hema, veteran actor Sarada and former IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari were other two members of the commission. The committee submitted its report to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in December 31, 2019 but Kerala government has not released the report yet.