Hema Committee Report: Kerala High Court appoints amicus curiae for women’s policy

The Kerala High Court has appointed advocate Mitha Sudheendran as amicus curiae to coordinate, report, propose, and draft legislation addressing the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Amicus curiae, meaning “friend of the court” in Latin, refers to an individual or group not directly involved in the case but who offers expertise, advice, or information to assist the court in making its decision.
This decision was made by the Special Division Bench of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha while considering the report of the Hema Committee, which was set up to investigate issues concerning women’s safety and exploitation in the film industry. The court noted that if the state government finalises a draft law, it will be considered for approval.
The state government informed the court that it is in the process of preparing draft legislation to address the concerns raised regarding the safety and well-being of women in the film industry. During the hearing, the court also reviewed the investigation progress report submitted by the government. The report highlighted that 26 FIRs were registered in connection with the revelations from the Hema Committee report.
However, the court was informed that five complainants have refused to cooperate with the investigation, and three others have retracted their statements. Meanwhile, the Women’s Collective (WCC) announced that it will submit its own draft proposal for legislation to the court.
The court acknowledged the ongoing progress of the investigation and emphasised the need for effective legal measures to protect women in the film industry. Further hearings are expected as the draft legislation and investigation continue to unfold.
The Hema Committee, formed in 2017, was established following a petition by the Women in Cinema Collective to investigate issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry. The three-member committee, comprising retired High Court Justice K Hema, actor Sharada, and retired IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari, examined the industry’s treatment of women and provided recommendations after a series of shocking revelations, including sexual exploitation, discrimination, and a lack of a clear employer-employee relationship.