• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

The Kerala High Court issued a one-week stay order on the State Information Commission’s (SIC) order directing the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report on women's working conditions in the Malayalam film industry. The stay was ordered by Justice PM Manoj in response to a writ petition filed by Malayalam film producer Sajimon Parayil.

Sajimon Parayil's petition challenged the SIC's directive, arguing that disclosing the report could harm the film industry by breaching confidentiality and potentially damaging reputations. He contended that the limited redactions ordered by the SIC were insufficient to protect the privacy and confidentiality of those who provided testimony.

The Kerala government, which had constituted the Hema Committee in response to a petition by the 'Women in Cinema Collective' in 2017, and the SIC were directed to file affidavits responding to Parayil's petition. The Committee had submitted its report in 2019, but the government had refused to make it public despite numerous requests under the Right to Information Act. On July 5, the SIC ordered the report's release with certain portions redacted.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin's 'You Will Be Isolated' Warning To PM Modi Over Budget: 'If You Run Govt According To...'

During the hearing, the SIC's Standing Counsel and the Government Pleader questioned Parayil's locus standi, asserting that his interest in the matter was private. They stated that the report aimed to improve the industry's conditions and that the public had a right to know its contents, reported Bar and Bench.

Advocate M. Ajay, representing the SIC, argued that all personal details had been redacted, mitigating privacy concerns. He questioned the urgency of the stay, suggesting that digital age transparency was necessary for accountability.

ALSO READ: Thane Woman Travels To Pakistan To Meet Man She 'Married Online'; Booked On Return For Using Forged Documents

Sajimon Parayil's counsel, Advocate Saiby Jose Kidangoor, stressed the potential impact on Parayil's privacy and the need for a more detailed examination before the report's release. He suggested a brief stay to allow objections from affected parties. Ajay countered that Parayil's fears were unfounded, given the redactions and highlighted the public's right to know the findings of the Committee.

After both sides, the Court decided to issue an interim stay on the report's release and scheduled a more detailed hearing for August 1.