(1) If any pence officer, or any other person, authorised by the State Government in this behalf, by general or special order, is of the opinion that a person is apparently a neglected child, such police officer cr other person may take charge c,f that person for bringing him before a Bc ard.
(2) When informaticn is given to an officer -in -charge of a police statior abeut any neglected child found within the limits of such fiat ion, he shall enter in a book to be kept for the purpose the substance of such information and take such action thereon as he deems ft and if such officer does not propose to take charge of the chill, he shill forward a copy of the entry so made to the Board and to such other person as may be authorised under sub -section (1).
GO Every child taken charge of under sub -section (/) shall be brought before the Board within a Nriod of twenty-four hours of taking such charge excluding the time necessary for the journey.
(4) Every child taken charge of under sub -section (1) shall, unless he is kept with his parent or guardian, be sent to an observation home (b. t not to a police station or jail) until he can be brought before a Board as required under sub -section (3).
Special procedure 13. (1) If a person, who in the opinion of the authorised police officer to be followed when or the authorised person Is a neglected child, has a parent or guardian who has neglected eleiid has the actual charge of, or control over, the child, he may, instead of taking parent or guardian. charge of the child, make a report to the Board for initiating an enquiry regarding that child.
(2) On receipt of a report under sub -section (1). the Board may call upon the parent or guardian to produce the child before it and to show cause why the child should not be dealt with as a neglected child under the provisions of this Act and if it appears to the Board that the child is likely to be removed from its jurisdiction or to be concealed before he is produced, it may immediately order his production before the Board or removal to an observation home.
Inquiry by Board 14. (/) When a person alleged to be a neglected child is produced before regarding neglected a Board, it shall examtne the person who brought the child or made the report children. and record the substance of such examination and hold the enquiry in the prescribed manner and may make such orders in relation to the child as it may deem fit.
(2) Where a Board is satisfied on inquiry that a child is a neglected child and that it is expedient so to deal with him, the Beard may make an order directing the child to be sent to a children's home for the period uLtil he ceases to be a child :
• . • • Provided that the Board may, for reasons to be recorded, extend the period of such stay, but in no case the period of stay shall extend beyond the time when the child attains the age of eighteen years, in the case of a boy, or twentyyears, in the case of a girl 11 111 1 11 1 HARYA.NA GOVT GAZ. (EXTRA.), FEBRUARY t2, 1914 14?)
(MAG}IA 23, 1895 SAKii)
Provided further that the Board may, if it is satisfied that having regard to the circumstances of the case it is expedient so to do, for reasons to be recorded, reduce the period of stay to such period as it thinks fit.
(3) Darin the pendency clean& inquiry regarding a child, the child shall, unless he is kept with his parent or guardian, be sent to an observation home for such period as may be specified in the order of the Board :
Provided that no child shall be kept with his parent or guardian, if, in the opinion of the Board, such parent or guardian is unfit to exercise or does not exercise proper care and control over the child.