Sexual assault controversy; shooting on secretariat premises permanently banned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the controversy that a young actor sexually assaulted an actress while shooting at the Secretariat, the government has banned the shooting of movies and serials at the Secretariat. Corridors, Durbar Hall and Garden of Secretariat will no longer be used for filming of movies and serials.

Strict restrictions were placed on entry and use of buildings in the Secretariat, which was declared a Special Security Area under Police Act 83(2). The Home Department and the General Administration Housekeeping Department have stopped issuing filming permits.

Filming in the Secretariat was done by arranging the orders of these departments under the influence of producers, directors and stars. The last film (in 2020) shot in the Secretariat was 'One', in which Mammootty played a Chief Minister named 'Kadakkal Chandran'.

Shooting is allowed on the road in front of the Secretariat with strict conditions. There is a ban on flying drones within 500 meters and filming security areas. Guns and weapons are not allowed except for the police. Fireworks are also prohibited.

Police, Home and Public Works Departments, KSEB and Fire Force are now conducting a security audit to find security loopholes in the one-and-a-half century-old Secretariat building. This month, there was a controversy when a woman vlogger filmed on the Secretariat premises without permission.

Favorite corridors

The long corridors in the Secretariat are the most requested for filming. The corridor in front of the chief minister's office with huge grills on both sides, the durbar hall with royal splendour and the garden were all permitted to be filmed earlier.

Security issues

• There was a fire in the room of Minister P Rajiv's Additional Private Secretary in May and in the protocol department in August 2020.
• The protesters can enter the secretariat premises and buildings.
• Assessment that there will be safety issues and the heritage building will be affected if filming continues.