Chapter IV OFFICERS, THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES

The Government may, for the purposes of this Act appoint the following officers:- (a) one Chief Inspector of certified schools and one Chief Inspector of children’s homes for the whole of the State; (b) such number of Inspectors and Assistant Inspectors of certified schools and children’s homes, as may be necessary; and (c) such other officers as may be necessary.

The powers and functions of the Chief Inspector, Inspectors and the Assistant Inspectors of certified schools and children’s homes and other officers shall be such as may be provided by or under this Act and in accordance with the general or special orders, which the Government or any officer authorised by the Government in this behalf may make for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act.

The Government may, by notification, delegate to the Chief Inspector such of their powers under this Act, as may be prescribed, except the power to establish Boards, juvenile courts, certified schools, children’s homes, observation homes or After Care Organisations for reception of children and the power to make rules under this Act.

(1) The Government or such other authority as may be empowered by them in this behalf, may appoint probation officers for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) Subject to any rules that may be made in this behalf, it shall be the duty of the probation officer:- (a) to visit children in need of protection and juvenile offenders at such intervals as the probation officer may think fit; (b) to report to the competent authority on the behaviour of any child in need of protection or any juvenile offender; (c) to advise and assist children in need of protection or juvenile offenders and if necessary endeavour to find them suitable employment; (d) where a child in need of protection or juvenile offender is placed under the care of any person on certain conditions, to see whether such conditions are being complied with; and (e) to perform such other functions as may be prescribed. (3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), a competent authority may, for the purposes of any particular case or proceeding appoint any other person as a probation officer if in its opinion such appointment is expedient or necessary.

(1) A probation officer in the performance of his functions under this Act shall be an officer of competent authority and shall be under the supervision and guidance of such competent authority. (2) Nothing in this section shall derogate from the powers of supervision of the Chief Inspector over the probation officers.