Dignity of women should not be tarnished: High Court

KOCHI: The High Court has stated that women form the majority in Kerala society and their dignity should not be tarnished. The court emphasized that if there is a tendency to disregard or disrespect women in any sphere or field, it should be promptly addressed and rectified. The special division bench made the observation while considering the Justice Hema Committee report.

"The report details various incidents, including sexual harassment. This is not suitable for Kerala, which has high literacy rates. Most children born in the state are girls, and women have a longer life expectancy. The government should ensure that they are not humiliated or discriminated against. Instead of forming another committee to study issues like employment, the government should focus on enacting necessary legislation to address the discrimination faced by women," the bench comprising AK Jayashankar Nambiar and Justice CS Sudha said.

Court to examine report after govt's action
The High Court did not open and examine the Hema Committee report, which was received in a sealed cover. Instead, it was suggested that the report be kept in the Advocate General's office for the time being. The investigation team must inform the government within two weeks about the actions taken regarding the report. Following this, the government is required to file an affidavit in response. Only after that will the High Court examine the report.