Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Against HC Order To Register FIRs On Statements Of Malayalam Cinema Actors To Justice Hema Committee

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice on a petition challenging the Kerala High Court's direction to the police to register FIRs on statements made by women actors to Justice Hema Committee regarding the abuses faced by them in the Malayalam cinema industry.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale issued notice on a special leave petition filed by film producer Sajimon Parayil against the direction issued by the Kerala High Court on October 14.

The High Court bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha, after reading the entire Hema Committee report, opined that the statements revealed commission of cognizable offences and directed the Special Investigation Team to register FIRs after conducting preliminary enquiry as per Section 173(2) of the BNSS.

The petitioner challenged the High Court directive contending that when the victims themselves were disinclined to lodge FIRs, the High Court could not have issued such a blanket direction. The statements made by the victims to the Committee six years cannot be regarded as 'information' as per Section 173 BNSS, when they themselves are discinclined to initiate criminal proceedings and have not asserted the statements later, the petitioner contended.

The SIT itself has stated before the High Court that none of the witnesses who gave statements before the committee were ready to cooperate and give a statement to the police.

The Supreme Court issued notice to the State of Kerala and posted the matter to November 19, when the prayer for interim stay will be considered.

Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi, K Parameswar, Advocates Saiby Jose Kidangoor, A Karthik,Smrithi Suresh, Sugam Agrawal and Irine Mathew appeared for the petitioner.

Case : Sajimon Parayil v State of Kerala SLP(c) 25250-25251/2024

Click here to read the order