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NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Kerala High Court Serves Ultimatum To Centre To Decide On Loan Waiver For Wayanad Landslide Victims
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a stern ultimatum to the Central government, granting it one final opportunity to convey its decision on waiving off loans taken by victims of the Wayanad landslides. A division bench of Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian was hearing a suo motu case initiated following the devastating landslide that struck Wayanad on July 30, 2024. When the matter came up, the court inquired about the Centre's position on the loan waiver. The Additional Solicitor General, appearing for the Centre, informed the bench that no final decision had been communicated to him yet, but assured that he would update the court by September 10. Taking note of the prolonged delay, the bench ordered: "Post these matters on 10th September. This is the last chance for the Central government to revert to this court regarding their decision on the loan waiver." In previous hearings, the ASG had explained that the matter had moved from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Department of Expenditure and subsequently to the Finance Ministry, where it is pending further instructions. This is not the first time the court has expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre's approach. In April, the High Court had criticised the Union government and the National Disaster Management Authority for inaction and urged them to emulate Kerala Bank's example, which wrote off Rs 5 crore worth of loans owed by affected residents. According to court records, 12 banks collectively hold 3,220 accounts in the landslide-hit region, with total exposure amounting to Rs 35.30 crore. The bench had earlier reminded the Centre of its responsibility as the chief executive in a welfare state, urging it to aid citizens who lost their livelihoods, instead of allowing banks to adopt a 'Shylockian' approach towards borrowers. The July 30, 2024, disaster decimated four villages, injured hundreds, claimed over 200 lives, and left 32 people still missing. Survivors continue to face financial hardship as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
News18
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Hema Committee Report: All 35 Cases Dropped, No Victim Came Forward To Speak
Last Updated: In August 2024, the findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report were made public which left everyone shocked. All 35 cases based on the Justice Hema Committee report have been dropped. On Wednesday, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) informed the Kerala High Court that it has dropped all cases relating to sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry since none of the victims came forward to give their statements. Following the update from SIT, the High Court bench, comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and C.S. Sudha, determined that no further action is necessary in the crimes registered by the agency at this time. The court also noted that the state government has scheduled a Film Conclave to be held in the first week of August 2025. Therefore, the court has now scheduled a follow-up hearing on August 13 to further consider the petitions. For the unversed, in August 2024, the findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report were made public, which left everyone shocked. The report explored the working conditions for women in the Malayalam film industry and shed light on several alleged cases of sexual harassment or assault. FIRs were also registered against several film personalities including Mukesh, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Nivin Pauly, Maniyan Pillai Raju, directors Ranjith, V. K. Prakash, and production executives Vichu and Noble. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also formed to investigate these cases. Later, a Special Bench of the Kerala High Court also directed the SIT to appoint a nodal officer who could be easily contacted by victims, complainants, or witnesses for any concerns. 'It was pointed out that some of the victims who preferred complaints before the Hema Committee have since approached the SIT. Some of them have received intimidating calls and they can't approach the SIT as and when they get such threatening calls. Taking note of the same, we deem it appropriate to direct the SIT to immediately nominate a nodal officer and give adequate publicity of the name and contact of the nodal officers nominated by them," a special bench had said. In the wake of the findings of the Hema Committee, Mohanlal also resigned as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists. He was the president of the association and had a 17-member executive committee. However, all the members of the committee submitted had their joint resignation. First Published: June 26, 2025, 10:24 IST
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
All 35 cases based on Hema Committee report dropped after no victim came forward to give statements: SIT tells Kerala HC
Jun 26, 2025 09:14 AM IST Malayalam cinema faced its biggest test of structural and cultural practices last year after the Justice Hema Committee was made public. The report detailed ingrained practices of sexism and harassment in the film industry. A total of 35 cases were lodged based on the complaints based on the report. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe these cases. But now the SIT has informed the Kerala High Court that it has dropped all those cases. Members of Malayalam film fraternity staged many protests after the release of the Hema committee report in 2024. (PTI Photo)(PTI) On Wednesday, the SIT told the HC that it has dropped further action in the 35 cases lodged on the basis of the Justice Hema Committee report, as none of the victims came forward to give their statements. Based on the new SIT report, a bench of Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and C.S. Sudha said that no further action was required in the crimes registered by the agency for now. The HC was hearing several pleas seeking action based on the recommendations of the Hema Committee. The new order now puts all the cases to rest. The court also noted that the state government has scheduled a Film Conclave to be held in the first week of August 2025, and directed that the petitions be listed on August 13 for further consideration. All about the Justice Hema Committee The Justice Hema Committee was established by the Kerala government following the infamous 2017 assault case on a female star. The committee submitted its report the following year, but it was made public only in 2024, which caused a huge uproar, leading to the dissolution of the all-powerful actors' body of Malayalam cinema. The full report of the panel was submitted to the Kerala High Court, which had directed that it be handed over to the SIT for investigating complaints of sexual abuse in the film industry. (With inputs from PTI)
