The Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that the denial of security clearance to Malayalam news channel MediaOne was based on intelligence inputs, which are “sensitive and secret in nature”.

It said that as a matter of policy and in the interest of security of the State and its establishments, the Union home ministry does not disclose the reasons for denial.

The affidavit was filed by the I&B ministry in response to the appeal by the news channel against the Kerala High Court order dismissing its plea challenging the denial of security clearance and the telecast ban.

“It is submitted that MHA has informed that the denial of security clearance is based on intelligence inputs, which are sensitive and secret in nature. Therefore, as a matter of policy and in the interest of security of the state and its establishments, the MHA does not disclose the reasons for denial,” the affidavit said.

It, however, said that all the relevant files were produced by the MHA before the high court and also before the top court on March 15 and in the event the Supreme Court directs the production of the files again, the ministry would do so in a sealed cover.

“…The MHA… seeks privilege over its secret files and prays to this court that the contents of the files may not be disclosed to the petitioners, as such a disclosure may have far reaching and unimaginable consequences in so far as national security is concerned,” it said.