(1) If a neglected child has a parent or guardian, the police officer or a person authorised under sub-section (1) of section 29 may, instead of taking the child into custody under that sub-section, make a report to a Court for an inquiry regarding the child.
(2) On receipt of a report under sub-section (1) or on its o,vn knowledge or information a Court 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 Court that the child is likely to be removed from its jurisdiction or to be concealed, it may issue a warrant for taking the child into custody and for sending him to a reception home.
31, (1) When a neglected child is produced before a Court, it shall examine the police officer or the authorised person, as the case may be, who produced the child before the Court or made the report, and record the substance of such examination and may send the child to a reception home pending further inquiries.
(2) On the date fixed for such further inquiries or on any subsequent date to which the proceedings may be adjourned, the Court shall hear and record all evidence which may be adduced and consider any cause which may be shown under sub-section (2) of section 30.
(3) If the Court is satisfied on such inquiry that the child is a neglected child and that it is expedient to deal with him accordingly, the Court may make an order directing that the child shall be sent to and kept in a reformatory or an industrial school, as the case may be, and that the period of his stay. in such school shall, save as hereinafter otherwise provided, extend up to the time when he attains the age of eighteen years :
Provided that the Court may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, shorten the period of his stay in a reformatory Or an industrial school:
Inquiry by Court regarding neglected children and power of committal to reformatory or industrial school.
Provided further that where a child attains the age of fourteen years before the expiry of the period of his stay in a reformatory school, he shall be transferred to an industrial school, to be kept there for the unexpired period.
Power to commit neglected child to suitable custody.
Power of State Qrovernment to direct release of a neglected child kept in a reformatory or industrial school.
Uncontrollable children.
12 The West Bengal Children Act, 1959.
[West Ben. Act (Chapter IV .—Neglected Children,.—Sections 32-34.—Chapter V .— Maintenance and treatment of children in reformatory, industrial or borstal schools or under custody.—Section 35.)