Delinquent child undergoing sentence at commencement of the Act

In any area in which this Act is brought into force, the State Government may direct that a delinquent child undergoing a sentence of imprisonment at the commencement of this Act, shall, in lieu of undergoing such sentence, be sent to a special school or be kept in safe custody in such place and manner as the State Government thinks fit, for the remainder of the period of the sentence ; and the provisions of this Act shall apply to the child as if he had been ordered by a children's court to be sent to such special school or, as the case may be, ordered to be detained under sub-section (2) of section 21.