(1)Any information, obtained by the Lokayukta Aayog or by members of its staff in the course of, or for the purposes of any inquiry or investigation under this Act, and any evidence recorded in connection with such information, shall subject to the provisions of the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 12, be treated as confidential and notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872,(1 of 1872.) no court shall be entitled to compel the Lokayukta or the Up-Lokayukta or the Lokayukta Aayog, or any public servant to give evidence relating to such information or produce the evidence so recorded.(2)Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to the disclosure of any information or particulars,-(a)in any report to be made on an investigation under this Act or for any action or proceeding to be taken on such report; or(b)for purposes of any proceedings for an offence under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 or an offence of giving or fabricating false evidence under the Indian Penal Code or for purposes of any proceedings under section 20; or(c)for such other purposes as may be prescribed.(3)An officer or other authority prescribed in this behalf may give notice in writing to the Lokayukta with respect to any document or information specified in the notice or any class of documents so specified that in the opinion of the State Government the disclosure of the documents or information or of documents or information of that class would be contrary to public interest and where such notice is given, nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorising or requiring the Lokayukta or Up-Lokayukta or any member of his staff to disclose or communicate to any person any document or information specified in the notice or any document or information of a class so specified.
