Comprehension

In refusing to entertain ’sealed covers’ submitted by the government or its agencies, the Supreme Court has made a noteworthy and welcome shift away from this unedifying practice. At least two Benches have spoken out against it. Recently, in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuse case, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana wondered why even an ’action taken’ report should be in a sealed envelope. The use of material produced in a ’sealed cover’ as an aid to adjudication is something to be strongly discouraged and deprecated. However, it gained much respectability in recent years, with contents withheld from lawyers appearing against the government, but being seen by the judges alone. Unfortunately, in some cases, courts have allowed such secret material to determine the outcome. In a recent instance, the Kerala High Court perused confidential intelligence inputs produced in a sealed envelope by the Union government to uphold the validity of orders revoking the broadcasting permission given to Malayalam news channel Media One on the ground of national security. It is quite disconcerting to find that courts can rule in favour of the government without providing an opportunity to the affected parties to know what is being held against them. In this backdrop, it is significant that the Supreme Court has decided that it will examine the issue of ’sealed cover jurisprudence’ while hearing the channel’s appeal. For now, the apex court has stayed the revocation order and allowed the channel to resume broadcasting. It is true that the law permits the submission of confidential material to the court in some cases. In addition, courts can order some contents to be kept confidential. The Evidence Act also allows the privilege of non-disclosure of some documents and communications. Even when authorities claim privilege over classified material, they had no objection to judges perusing them to satisfy themselves about the claims. The government usually justifies the submission of secret material directly to the court, citing national security or the purity of an ongoing investigation. Courts have often justified entertaining material not disclosed to the parties by underscoring that it is to satisfy their conscience. However, the practice sometimes has undesirable consequences. It compromises the defence of those accused of some crimes, especially those involving an alleged threat to national security, or money laundering and corruption. Undisclosed material is often used to deny bail, something the apex court criticised the Delhi High Court for doing in a case against former Union Minister P. Chidambaram. It observed that recording a finding based on material kept in a sealed cover was not justified. The main mischief of the ’sealed cover’ practice lies in the scope it gives the state to avoid deep scrutiny of the need and proportionality of its restrictions on freedom. The time has come for the Supreme Court to determine and circumscribe the circumstances in which confidential government reports, especially those withheld from the other side, can be used by courts in adjudication. 

Question: 1

According to the passage, 'Sealed cover' reports are...

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When a term is in quotes, like 'sealed cover', the passage will often define or describe it. Scan the text for every instance of the quoted term to build a complete picture of its meaning and context.
Updated On: Oct 13, 2025
  • Submitted by the defence Lawyers
  • Submitted by the Government
  • Against Evidence Act
  • Not against natural justice
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks who submits the 'sealed cover' reports, as described in the passage.

Step 2: Identifying the Submitting Party in the Passage
The passage consistently associates this practice with the government. Key phrases include:


"In refusing to entertain 'sealed covers' submitted by the government or its agencies..."

"...contents withheld from lawyers appearing against the government..."

"...a sealed envelope by the Union government..."

"The government usually justifies the submission of secret material..."


Step 3: Evaluating the Options


(A) Submitted by the defence Lawyers: The passage states the contents are withheld from the lawyers appearing *against* the government, implying the lawyers are the receiving party (or rather, the party from whom it is withheld), not the submitting party.

(B) Submitted by the Government: This is explicitly and repeatedly stated throughout the passage.

(C) Against Evidence Act: The passage mentions that the Evidence Act actually "allows the privilege of non-disclosure of some documents," suggesting the practice, in some forms, is permitted by law, not against it.

(D) Not against natural justice: The passage strongly implies the practice is against natural justice by stating it's "disconcerting to find that courts can rule... without providing an opportunity to the affected parties to know what is being held against them."


Step 4: Final Answer
The text clearly and consistently identifies the government or its agencies as the party that submits 'sealed cover' reports to the courts. Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.
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Question: 2

According to the passage, the Government justifies submitting sealed cover reports citing...

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Questions that ask for a justification or reason can often be answered by looking for the word "citing," "because," "due to," or similar causal language in the text. This will usually lead you to the exact reason provided in the passage.
Updated On: Oct 13, 2025
  • National Integrity
  • National Security
  • National diversity
  • Official secrecy
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks for the reasons or justifications that the government gives for using the 'sealed cover' practice.

Step 2: Locating the Government's Justification in the Passage
The passage provides the specific reasons cited by the government. It states: "The government usually justifies the submission of secret material directly to the court, citing national security or the purity of an ongoing investigation." Another example given is the Kerala High Court case, which was decided on the "ground of national security."

Step 3: Evaluating the Options


(A) National Integrity: This term is not used in the passage as a justification.

(B) National Security: This is explicitly mentioned multiple times in the passage as a primary justification used by the government.

(C) National diversity: This is not mentioned as a reason.

(D) Official secrecy: While the reports are secret, "official secrecy" is a general concept. The passage gives more specific justifications like "national security." "National security" is the precise reason cited.


Step 4: Final Answer
The passage directly states that the government justifies the use of sealed covers by citing "national security." Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.
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