Lucknow, Jul 31 (IANS): The Central government has provided categorized security cover to 308 persons, out of which 24 have been provided the highest Z-plus cover, according to the answer to an RTI query.

As per information provided by S.C.L. Das, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry to city-based activist Nutan Thakur, two dozen persons have been given Z-plus security, 59 persons have been given Z security, 109 have been given Y-plus, 34 have been given Y and 82 persons have been given X category security.

The ministry however declined to provide other information sought by the RTI activist, including the number of security persons and other paraphernalia provided under each of these security covers, as per the fixed norms as also the total monthly remunerations given to these security personnel who have been assigned to various persons with different security covers.

"He refused to provide other information under section 8(1)(g) of RTI Act dealing with threat to life and safety along with section 8(1)(j) dealing with personal information and section 24 dealing with exemptions from the RTI Act, Thakur told IANS on Tuesday.