Kerala HC Appoints Amicus Curiae to Assist Govt in Framing Policy for Working Women

Kochi - The Kerala High Court on Thursday appointed advocate Mitha Sudhindran as amicus curiae to assist the state government in drafting new legislation addressing workplace issues faced by women, particularly in the film industry. This decision comes in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report, which revealed widespread sexual exploitation and other forms of gender-based violence within the industry.

The special bench, comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and C.S. Sudha, emphasized the importance of gathering diverse perspectives from stakeholders to inform the drafting process. The court directed the state to ensure all relevant parties are consulted, aiming to create a law that incorporates a "feminine perspective" currently lacking in existing legislation.

The court clarified that its role is to facilitate the gathering of these perspectives and provide guidance to the state, not to draft the legislation itself. This approach underscores the court's commitment to ensuring the new law effectively addresses the needs and experiences of women in the workplace.

The appointment follows the August 19 release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which sparked public outcry over the lack of clear employer-employee relationships within the film industry and the resulting vulnerabilities faced by women. The High Court subsequently formed a separate bench to handle the numerous pleas arising from the report.

In a related development, the court was informed that 26 FIRs have been registered based on its directive to the Special Investigating Team (SIT). However, five victims are unwilling to cooperate with the investigation, and three have retracted their statements, declining to proceed. The court has granted more time for the SIT to submit statements in the remaining 18 FIRs and posted the case for its next hearing on November 21.