Keywords: plea , nepotism , bias , Kerala State Film Awards
Noted Malayalam film director Lijeesh M.J has approached the doors of the Supreme Court after the dismissal of his plea regarding setting aside the declaration of Kerala State Awards For Malayalam Films & Writings On Cinema 2022.
Director Lijeesh M.J filed a plea which alleged that the declaration of the Kerala State Film Awards was coloured by bias on account of nepotism by Ranjith , the Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. The plea which has been moved by Advocates Prabhu KN and Rebin Vincent Gralan also mentioned that the High Court made the decision of dismissing the appeal without considering the relevant facts guiding the case. The plea also pointed out that Ranjith had not filed an counter affidavit against the appellant’s plea despite being given ample opportunities to do so.
The Division Bench of the Kerala High Court consisting of Chief Justice A.J Desai and Justice V.G Arun observed that there was no merit in the contents of the appeal and the Single Judge Bench was right in their action of dismissing the plea . The Division Bench also noticed that Lijeesh M.J’s film “ Aakaashasthinu Thaazhe” was not even considered by the preliminary jury and the producer of the film had not raised any claim regarding the alleged bias which was shown by the director nor was there any affidavit filed by the members of the main jury to extend support towards the appellant. The Single Judge Bench had dismissed the petition on the grounds that it lacked any evidence to support the claims of nepotism and bias and therefore opined that the writ petition should not be entertained since it reeked of hearsay.
The case of the petitioner includes the matter that after the Awards were declared , the director of the film “ Patthonpatham Noottandu” Vinayan alleged that he possessed evidence which contained voice recordings of Jury Members of The Kerala State Film Awards which would indict Chairman Ranjith of intervening in the selection of winners for the Award thereby indicating bias and nepotism on his part. This led the appellant director to make a plea which sought to set aside the declaration of the awards.
Written by Parvati Arun , interning at Legal Vidhiya
