Persons who may be present before competent authority

Persons who may be present before competent authority.—(1) Save as provided in this Act, no person shall be present at any sitting of a competent authority, except—

1. (a) any officer of the competent authority, or
2. (b) the parties to the inquiry before the competent authority, the parent or guardian of the child and other persons directly concerned in the inquiry including police officers, and
3. (c) such other persons as the competent authority may permit to be present.

1. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if at any stage during an inquiry, a competent authority considers it to be expedient in the interest of the child or on grounds of the nature of the proceedings, it may require any person (including the police, press, legal practitioners or the child himself) to withdraw, and the competent authority may have him removed and may, for this purpose, cause to be used such force as may be necessary.