Kerala Information Commission orders release of Hema Commission report

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Information Commissioner Dr AA Abdul Hakim has ordered the state government to release the report prepared by the Justice Hema Commission, which was appointed to study the problems faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The Commission stated that no information should be withheld except what is prohibited under the RTI Act.

'While releasing the information, the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) should ensure that it does not intrude on the privacy of the individuals referenced in the report,' the Commission stated. It also stated that the Govt Secretary should ensure that the order is fully implemented.

Although the Hema Commission submitted the report on December 31, 2019, the government has not released it yet. People, including journalists, had approached the State Information Commission against this. Actress Sharada and former IAS officer KB Vatsala Kumari were members of the commission. The commission studied the problems faced by women in the film industry, including actresses. Several women, ranging from leading heroines to women working in the technical side of movies, had recorded their statements before the commission.

The order issued by the State Information Commission states that paragraph 96 (page 49) of the report and paragraphs 165 to 196 of pages 81 to 100 and the annexure should not be released. Justice Hema Commission was appointed after the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) submitted a petition to the Chief Minister following the assault on a Malayalam actress.