(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall be present in any sitting of a competent authority, except-
(a) the members and officers of competent authority;
(b) the parties to the case before competent authority, the parent or guardian of the child and other persons directly concerned in the case, including the police officer and legal practitioner; and
(c) such other persons as competent authority may permit to be present.
(2) No legal practitioner shall be entitled to appear before a Board in any case or proceeding before it, except with the special permission of that Board.
16. If, at any stage, during the course of a trial of a case or proceeding, a competent authority considers it expedient in the interests of the child or on grounds of decency or morality, to direct any person including the police officers, the parent, guardian or the child himself to withdraw, the competent authority shall be entitled to give such direction and thereupon such person shall withdraw. If any person Special provision in respect of pending cases.
Presence of persons in competent authority.
Withdrawal of persons.
[Act No.26 of 1979] 11 refuses to withdraw, the competent authority may have him removed and may for this purpose cause to be used such force as may be necessary.
17. If at any stage during the course of a trial of a case or proceeding, a competent authority is satisfied that the attendance of a child is not essential for the purposes of the hearing of the case or proceeding, the competent authority may dispense with his attendance and proceed with the trial of the case or proceeding in the absence of the child.
18. If, at any stage during the course of a trial of a case or proceeding in relation to an offence against, or any conduct contrary to, decency or morality a child is examined as a witness the competent authority trying the case or holding the proceeding may direct such persons as it thinks fit, not being parties to the case or proceeding, the legal practitioners and the officers concerned with the case or proceeding, to withdraw. Such persons shall then withdraw.
If any person refuses to withdraw, the competent authority may have him removed and may for this purpose, cause to be used such force as may be necessary.