Kochi: Update on Sexual Harassment Cases in the Film Industry
The state government has informed the High Court that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) established to investigate sexual harassment cases within the film industry has received a total of eight complaints since a nodal officer was appointed. Among these complaints, FIRs have been filed for five cases, while three have been forwarded to the appropriate police stations for further action.
During the proceedings, Advocate General K. Gopalakrishna Kurup shared these updates in response to requests calling for action based on the Justice K. Hema Committee report, which examines the working conditions of women in the film sector. He also disclosed that a cumulative total of 40 cases have been registered based on sexual harassment allegations from various individuals in the industry.
In a related development, the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce has requested to be included in the petition filed by the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which advocates for the enforcement of a code of conduct in the Malayalam film industry. Despite opposition from the WCC, the division bench comprising Justices A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and C. S. Sudha permitted this request for inclusion.
Mitha Sudhindran, serving as amicus curiae in these proceedings, presented a draft model legislation aimed at regulating the entertainment industry through the establishment of the Kerala Entertainment Industry Regulatory Authority (KEIRA). This authority would serve as a central registry for all film and entertainment projects, ensuring proper documentation and functioning as a foundational mechanism to oversee industry regulations.
Furthermore, the proposed legislation includes the creation of a Kerala Entertainment Industrial Tribunal, chaired by a retired High Court judge, to manage appeals related to decisions made by KEIRA. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for February 6.
