KOCHI: The state government informed HC that the special investigation team (SIT) formed to investigate cases of sexual harassment within the film industry has received eight complaints since the appointment of a nodal officer. FIRs have been registered in five of these complaints and three of them have been transferred to the relevant police stations.
Advocate General K Gopalakrishna Kurup provided these details in response to requests for action on the Justice K Hema Committee Reportwhich addresses the working conditions of women in the film industry.
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He also noted that a total of 40 cases have been registered, according to sexual harassment complaints of people in the industry.
Furthermore, the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce filed a challenge petition in the Women in Cinema Collective(CMI), which seeks the implementation of a code of conduct for the Malayalam film industry. Despite the WCC’s opposition, the court of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha allowed the execution.
Mitha Sudhindran, the amicus curiae, submitted a draft model legislation that aims to regulate the entertainment industry by establishing the Kerala Entertainment Industry Regulatory Authority (KEIRA). It would serve as a central registry for the titles of all film and entertainment projects, ensuring proper documentation and acting as a fundamental mechanism to regulate the industry.
The bill also proposes setting up of a Kerala Entertainment Industrial Tribunal, headed by a retired HC judge, to hear appeals arising from decisions taken by KEIRA. The HC posted the matter for February 6.