The Centre made it clear to the AP high court that the secret contents of the Justice Sri Krishna Committee report on the Telangana issue would not be made public as the secret part was a privileged document under the sections 123 and 124 of Indian Evidence Act 1872.

The additional solicitor-general Vivek Tanka, representing the central government, told Justice L. Narasimha reddy through the submission of a counter affidavit on Thursday that the secret contents were part of the chapter 8 of the committee report and would not warrant the necessity of making them public.  

The secret contents of the committee report would in no way affect the general public opinion either in favour of or against the demand for a separate state of Telangana.

The Centre has filed its affidavit in response to the notices given by the High Court based on a petition by the former MP Mr. M. Narayana Reddy who sought its direction to the Centre to disclose the secret contents mentioned in the chapter 8.

“It is very sensitive and highly secretive information and would not come under the provisions of the RTI Act too. Therefore, the Government has decided not to disclose the information,” the affidavit has stated.