Telangana HC notice to Telangana government on abuse of artistes

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to reveal its stand on the issue of unorganised women artists and their vulnerability to sexual exploitation in the Telugu film industry.

The bench comprising Chief Justice T.B.N. Radhakrishnan and Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy passed the order recently on a PIL filed last year by Ms V. Sandhya Rani and six other women activists of the city. They had complained about the inaction of the Telangana state government in constituting a high-level committee to deal with the numerous complaints of sexual exploitation of women artists working in the film industry.

The court directed the government to respond to the petitioners' demand for institution of a high-level committee to inquire into the issue of casting couch and initiate steps to ensure the safety, dignity and welfare of women artists.

Ms Vasudha Nagaraj, counsel for the petitioners, urged the court to issue directions to the government to conduct a proper inquiry into the issue.

The Telangana Film Development Corporation had sought the permission of the government to constitute a high-level committee in September last year.