Report of Probation Officers and other reports to be treated as confidential

The report of the probation officer or any other matter considered by the competent authority under section 21 shall be treated as confidential: Provided that, if such report or matter relates to the character, health or conduct of, or the circumstances in which the child, the parent or the guardian is living, the competent court may, if it thinks expedient, communicate the substance thereof to the child and the parent or guardian concerned as the case may be.