Section 51 – Reports to be treated as confidential – Juvenile Justice

The report of the probation officer or social worker considered by the competent authority shall be treated as confidential:

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Provided that the competent authority may, if it so thinks fit, communicate the substance thereof to the juvenile or the child or his parent or guardian and may give such juvenile or the child, parent or guardian an opportunity of producing such evidence as may be relevant to the matter stated in the report.

Comment:

The report of the Probation Officers is treated as confidential and the competent authority cannot be compelled to disclose the contents thereof. However, if the competent authority deems it fit, he may communicate the substance of the report to juvenile or the child or his parent or guardian and offer them an opportunity of producing relevant evidence about any matter contained in the said report.

It may be stated Section 7 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 also contains similar provision emphasising the fact that the report of the Probation Officer is to be treated confidential.