Procedure to be followed by a magistrate not empowered under the Act

Procedure to be followed by a magistrate not empowered under the Act.--

1. (1) When any magistrate, not empowered to exercise the powers of a Board or a children's court under this Act, is of opinion that a person brought before him under any of the provisions of this Act (otherwise than for the purpose of giving evidence) is a child, he shall record such opinion and submit the proceedings and the record of the proceeding to the competent authority having jurisdiction over the proceeding.
2. (2) The competent authority to which the proceeding is so submitted shall either inquire into the matter itself or cause the matter to be inquired into by a Board or a Children's Court or such other magistrate as it deems fit and may, thereafter, pass such orders as it may deem fit as if the child had originally been brought before it.