Sasha Selvaraj, better known as Ranjini, has taken a stand against the release of a controversial report on the working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry. Her appeal to the Kerala High Court raises serious concerns about privacy, as she argues that the Justice Hema Committee Report could expose sensitive details without proper redaction.
Ranjini isn’t against the report’s publication per se, but she’s alarmed by the lack of transparency regarding how her personal statements—given under the promise of confidentiality—will be handled. She contends that those like her, whose lives may be impacted by the report, should have been notified and given a chance to be heard before any part of the report was made public.
The report, which was compiled by the Justice Hema Committee in 2019 after being commissioned by the Kerala government in response to a petition by the ‘Women in Cinema Collective,’ has been mired in controversy. While it aims to shed light on the challenges faced by women in the industry, Ranjini fears that it could infringe on her right to privacy.
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, led by Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S Manu, has admitted Ranjini’s appeal and scheduled a hearing for Monday. The appeal comes in the wake of a ruling by a single judge, Justice VG Arun, who dismissed a petition that sought to block the report’s release.
Ranjini’s argument hinges on the delicate balance between the right to information and the right to privacy. She contends that when these rights collide, privacy should take precedence. The government’s legal representatives objected to her appeal, arguing that she wasn’t directly involved in the initial case. However, the Court overruled these objections, recognizing the significance of the privacy concerns raised.
As the debate over the report’s publication continues, Ranjini’s case underscores the ongoing struggle to protect personal privacy in an age where information is increasingly made public.
