The Telangana Children Act, 1979

(1) This Act may be called the Telangana Children Act, 1979. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Telangana. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification published in the Telangana Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) „adult‟ means a person who is not a child; (b) „begging‟ shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the Telangana Prevention of Begging Act, 1977; (c) „Board‟ means a Child Welfare Board constituted under section 6; (d) „brothel‟ “prostitute”, “prostitution” and “public place” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956. (e) „certified school‟ means a certified school established by the Government or any other school or institution declared by the Government as a certified school, under section 24; (f) „Chief Inspector‟ means the Chief Inspector of certified schools and children‟s home appointed under section 36; (g) „child‟ means a boy who has not completed the age of sixteen years or a girl who has not completed the age of eighteen years: (h) „children‟s home‟ means a children‟s home established by the Government or any institution declared by the Government as a children‟s home, under section 24; (i) „competent authority‟ means in relation to neglected child, a Board constituted under section 6 and in relation to juvenile offender a Juvenile court constituted under section 7 and where no such Board or juvenile court has been constituted includes any court empowered under sub-section (2) of section 9 to exercise the powers conferred on a Board or a juvenile court. (j) „competent court‟ means a juvenile court constituted under section 7 and where no such court has been constituted, includes a court empowered under sub-section (2) of section 9 to exercise the powers conferred on a jaurenile court; (k) „dangerous drug‟ means any article defined as dangerous drug in the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930; (l) „District Magistrate‟ means the person exercising the powers of a District Magistrate under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; (m) „fit person institution‟ in relation to the care of any child, means any association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, established for or having for its object, the reception or protection of children or the prevention of cruelty to children and which undertakes to bring up or to give facilities for bringing up any child entrusted to its care in conformity with the religion of child‟s birth; (n) „Government‟ means the State Government; (o) „Guardian‟ in relation to a child or juvenile offender includes any person who, in the opinion of the court having cognizance of any proceeding in relation to the child or juvenile offender, has for the time being, the actual charge of, or control over, the said child or juvenile offender; (p) „juvenile court‟ means a court constituted under section 7; (q) „juvenile offender‟ means any child who has been found to have committed an offence; (r) „neglected child‟ means a child who – (i) is found without having any home or settled place of abode or any ostensible means of subsistence or is found destitute, whether he is an orphan or not; or

(s) „notification‟ means a notification, published in the Telangana Gazette; and the word „notified‟ shall be construed accordingly; (t) „observation home‟ means any institution established, recognised as such under section 26/19; (u) „place of safety‟ includes an observation home or any other suitable place or institution (not being a police station or jail) the occupier or manager of which is willing temporarily to receive a child; and take care of child and which in the opinion of the competent authority may be a place of safety for child; (v) „prescribed‟ means prescribed by rules made by the Government under this Act; (w) „probation officer‟ means an officer appointed as a probation officer under section 39 or under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958; (x) „supervision‟ in relation to a child placed under the care of any parent, guardian or other fit person institution under this Act means the supervision of that child by a probation officer for the purpose of ensuring that the child is properly looked after and that the conditions imposed by the competent authority are complied with; (y) „voluntary home‟ means any place for the reception of children maintained wholly or partly by voluntary contributions. For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be a child, if at the time of initiation of any proceedings against him under this Act, or at the time of his arrest in connection with which any proceedings are initiated against him under this Act, such person has not completed the age of sixteen years in the case of a boy or eighteen years in the case of a girl: Provided that, if during the course of the proceedings under this Act, such person completes the age of sixteen years in the case of a boy or eighteen years in the case of a girl, the proceedings already commenced shall be continued and orders may be passed in respect of such person under this Act, as if such person was a child notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act.

Section 27 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the provisions of the Reformatory Schools Act, 1897 shall, upon the commencement of this Act, cease to apply to this State.

(1) The Government may, by notification, constitute for any area specified in the notification one or more Child Welfare Boards for exercising the powers and discharging the duties conferred or imposed on such Board in relation to neglected children under this Act. (2) The Board shall consist of a Chairman and such other members as the Government may think fit to appoint of whom not less than one shall be a woman and every such member shall be vested with the powers of a magistrate under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. (3) No person shall be appointed as a member of the Board unless he has, in the opinion of the Government, special knowledge of child psychology and child welfare. (4) The Board shall function as Bench of magistrates and shall have the powers conferred by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on a Metropolitan Magistrate or as the case may be, a Judicial Magistrate of First Class.

In the event of any difference of opinion among the members of a Board or among the magistrates constituting a bench, the opinion of the majority shall prevail but where there is no such majority, the opinion of the Chairman or of the principal magistrate, as the case may be, shall prevail.

(1) When any court of a magistrate not empowered to exercise the powers of a juvenile court under this Act, is of opinion that a person brought before it is a child, it shall record such opinion and forward the child and the record of the proceeding to the court having jurisdiction under this Act, to deal with and dispose of the proceeding. (2) The court to which the proceeding is forwarded under sub-section (1) shall hold the inquiry as if the child has originally been brought before it.

Save as otherwise expressly provided by or under this Act, a competent court, while holding an inquiry into and in the trial of cases and the conduct of proceedings under this Act, shall, subject to such procedure as may be prescribed follow as far as may be the procedure laid down for trials in summons cases in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Notwithstanding anything in this Act, all proceedings in respect of a child pending in a court on the date on which this Act comes into force shall be continued in that court, as if this Act had not been passed and if such court finds that the child has committed an offence, it shall record such finding and, instead of passing any sentence in respect of the child forward the child to the competent court under this Act, which shall pass orders in respect of that child, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, as if it has been satisfied on enquiry under this Act that the child has committed the offence.

If, at any stage, during the course of a trial of a case or proceeding, a competent authority considers it expedient in the interests of the child or on grounds of decency or morality, to direct any person including the police officers, the parent, guardian or the child himself to withdraw, the competent authority shall be entitled to give such direction and thereupon such person shall withdraw. If any person refuses to withdraw, the competent authority may have him removed and may for this purpose cause to be used such force as may be necessary.

If at any stage during the course of a trial of a case or proceeding, a competent authority is satisfied that the attendance of a child is not essential for the purposes of the hearing of the case or proceeding, the competent authority may dispense with his attendance and proceed with the trial of the case or proceeding in the absence of the child.

If at any stage during the course of a trial of a case or proceeding in relation to an offence against, or any conduct contrary to, decency or morality a child is examined as a witness the competent authority trying the case or holding the proceeding may direct such persons as it thinks fit, not being parties to the case or proceeding, the legal practitioners and the officers concerned with the case or proceeding, to withdraw. Such persons shall then withdraw. If any person refuses to withdraw, the competent authority may have him removed and may for this purpose, cause to be used such force as may be necessary.

(1) Where a child brought before a competent authority under this Act has a parent or guardian, such parent or guardian, may, in any case, and shall, if he can be found and if he resides within a reasonable distance from the competent authority, be required to attend the court unless the competent authority is satisfied that it will be unreasonable to require his attendance. (2) The parent or guardian whose attendance is required under this section shall be the parent or guardian having the actual charge of or control over the child: Provided that if such parent or guardian is not the father, the attendance of the father may also be required. (3) The attendance of the parent of the child shall not be required under this section in any case, where the child was, before the institution of the proceedings removed from the custody or charge of his parent by an order of a court.

(1) When a child brought before a competent authority under any of the provisions of this Act, is found to be suffering, from a disease requiring prolonged medical treatment or from a physical or mental desease that will respond to the treatment, the competent authority may send the child to an observation home or to any other place recognized in the manner prescribed, to be an approved place, for such period as it may think necessary for the required treatment. (2) Where a child is found to be suffering from leprosy or is of unsound mind, he shall be dealt with under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Leprosy Act, 1953, or the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912, as the case may be.

For the purposes of any order, which a competent authority has to pass under this Act, the competent authority shall have regard to the following factors,– (a) the character, religious persuation and age of the child; (b) the circumstances in which the child is living; (c) the reports, if any, made by the probation officer, under section 63; and (d) such other matters as may, in the opinion of the competent authority, required to be taken into consideration in the interest of the child: Provided that in the case of a juvenile offender the above factor shall be taken into consideration after the competent authority has recorded a finding against such offender that he has committed the offences: Provided further that if no report of the probation officer is received within three months of his being informed under section 63, it shall be open to the competent authority to proceed without it.

The report of the probation officer or any other matter considered by the competent authority under section 21 shall be treated as confidential: Provided that, if such report or matter relates to the character, health or conduct of, or the circumstances in which the child, the parent or the guardian is living the competent court may, if it thinks expedient, communicate the substance thereof to the child and the parent or guardian concerned as the case may be.

No report in any newspaper, magazine, or news sheet of any inquiry or investigation of any case or proceeding before any competent authority in which a child is involved shall disclose the name, address or school or any other particulars calculated to lead to the identification of any such child, nor shall any picture of any such child be published: Provided that for reasons to be recorded in writing the authority trying the case or holding the proceeding may permit the disclosure of any such report if in its opinion, such disclosure is in the interests of child's welfare and it is not likely to affect adversely the interests of the child concerned.

(1) The Government may establish and maintain as many children’s homes as may be necessary for the reception of neglected children and as many certified schools as may be necessary for the reception of juvenile offenders. (2) Where the Government are of opinion that any institution not established under sub-section (1) is fit for the reception of the neglected children or juvenile offenders to be sent there under this Act, it may declare such institution as children’s home or as the case may be, a certified school for the purpose of this Act and issue a certificate to that effect.

Every children’s home to which a neglected child, and every certified school to which a juvenile offender is sent under this Act shall not only provide the child with accommodation and maintenance, but also endeavour to provide the child with facilities for education and developing his character and abilities and to give him necessary training for his reformation and shall also perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

(1) For the control and management of every children’s home or certified school established under sub-section (1) of section 24 a Superintendent and a Committee of Visitors shall be appointed by the Government and such Superintendent shall be deemed to be the manager of the children’s home or the certified school for the purposes of this Act. (2) Every institution declared as a children’s home or as a certified school under sub-section (2) of section 24 and every institution recognised as a fit person institution under section 27 shall be under the management of a governing body, which shall be deemed to be the manager of the home, school or the fit person institution for the purposes of this Act.

(1) The manager of a children’s home, certified school or a fit person institution shall report his opinion when he is consulted by the competent authority before any child is committed to such home, school or institution. (2) The manager of a children’s home or a certified school declared as such by the Government under sub-section (2) of section 24 shall, subject to availability of accommodation in such home or school receive any child committed to it under this Act: Provided that when such home or school has once accepted any child, it shall be bound to teach, train, lodge, clothe and feed him during the whole period for which he is liable to be detained in the home or school, or until the withdrawal or surrender of the certificate of the home or school.

Any registered medical practitioner authorised in this behalf by the Government may visit any children’s home, certified school or fit person institution at any time with or without notice to its manager, in order to report to the Chief Inspector on the health of the inmates and the sanitary condition of the home, school or institution.

The Government may cause any voluntary home not liable to be inspected by or under the authority of any Government Department, to be visited and inspected, from time to time, at all reasonable hours by the Chief Inspector, or any person authorised by him, in this behalf.

(1) Where the Government are not satisfied with the conditions, rules, management, or superintendence of a children’s home or a certified school, they may, at any time, by notice served on the manager of the home or school declare that the certification of the home or school is withdrawn as from the date specified in the notice and on such declaration the withdrawl of the certificate shall take effect and the home or school shall cease to be a children’s home or a certified school. (2) The Government may, instead of withdrawing a certificate under sub-section (1), by notice served on the manager of the home or school, prohibit the admission of neglected children or juvenile offenders to the home or school for such time as may be specified in the notice or until the notice is revoked: Provided that before the issue of a notice under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), an opportunity shall be given to the manager of the home or school to show cause why the certificate may not be withdrawn or admission to the home or school may not be prohibited, as the case may be.

The manger of a childern’s home or a certified school recognized under sub-section (2) of section 24 may, on giving six months’ notice in writing to the Government through the Chief Inspector, of his intention so to do, surrender the certificate of the home or school at the expiration of six months from the date of notice and there upon the home or school shall cease to be a children’s home or a certified school.

A neglected child or a juvenile offender shall not be received into a children’s home, or as the ease may be, into a certified school under this Act after the date of receipt by the manager of the home or school of a notice of withdrawal of the certificate under section 32, or the date of notice of intention to surrender the certificate under section 33: Provided that the obligation of the manager to teach, train, lodge, clothe and feed any neglected child detained in the home or juvenile offender detained in the school at the respective dates aforesaid shall, except so far as the Government otherwise direct, continue until the withdrawal or surrender of the certificate takes effect. (5) Any order under this section may be enforced in the same manner as an order under sections 125 and 126 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

When a home or a school ceases to be a children’s home or a certified school, the neglected children or juvenile offenders as the case may be, detained therein shall be either discharged absolutely or on such conditions as the Government may impose or transferred by order of the Chief Inspector to some other children’s home or certified school or fit person institution in accordance with the provisions of this Act relating to discharge and transfer.

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) 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.

(1) If any police officer, or other person authorised by the Government in this behalf by general or special order, (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the ‘authorised person’) is of opinion that a person is apparently a neglected child, such police officer or authorised person may take charge of that child for bringing him before a Board. (2) When information is given to an officer incharge of a police station about any neglected child found within the limits of such station, he shall enter in a book to be kept for the purpose, the substance of such information and take such action thereon as he deems fit and if such officer does not propose to take charge of the child, he shall forward a copy of the entry made and a report of the action taken to the Board. (3) Every child taken charge of under sub-section (1) shall be brought before the Board within a period of twenty-four hours of taking such charge excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place where the child had been taken charge of to the Board. (4) Every child taken charge of under sub-section (1) shall, unless he is kept with his parent or guardian, be sent to a place of safety, not being a police station, until he can be brought before the Board.

(1) If a person, who in the opinion of the police officer or the authorised person is a neglected child, has a parent or guardian, who has the actual charge of the child, but who is unable or unfit to exercise proper control over the child, the police officer or the authorised person may, instead of taking charge of the child make a report to the Board for initiating an inquiry regarding the child. (2) On receipt of a report under sub-section (1), the Board may call upon the parent or guardian to produce the child before it and to show cause why the said child should not be dealt with as a neglected child under the provisions of this Act, and if it appears to the Board that the child is likely to be removed from its jurisdiction or to be concealed, it may immediately issue a warrant authorising any police officer to search for the child and to take him to a place of safety, not being a police station to be detained therein until he can be brought before the Board.

(1) When a person alleged to be a neglected child is produced before a Board it shall examine the police officer or the authorised person, who brought the child or made the report and record the substance of such exmination and hold the enquiry in the prescribed manner. (2) Where on such enquiry the Board is satisfied that a child is a neglected child, the Board may make an order directing the child to be committed to a children’s home or to the care of a fit person institution named by the Board for

(1) If the Board so thinks fit, may instead of making an order under sub-section (2) of section 43 for sending the neglected child to a children’s home or a fit person institution, make an order placing the child under the care of a parent or guardian or other person, executing a bond with or without surities in such manner as the Board may require, to be responsible for the good behaviour and well-being of the child and for the observance of such other conditions as the Board may impose for securing that the chrld may lead an honest and industrious life. (2) The Board, which makes an order committing a neglected child to the care of a parent, guardian or other person under this section may, in addition, order that he be placed under the supervision of the probation officer for any period not exceeding three years. (3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), if at any time it appears to the Board on receiving a report from the probation officer or otherwise that there has been a breach of any of the conditions imposed by it in respect of the child, it may, after making such enquiry as it deems fit, order the child to be sent to a children’s home.

In the case of a neglected child whose ordinary place of residence lies outside the jurisdiction of the Board before which it is brought the Board may, if satisfied after due inquiry that it is expedient so to do, send such child back to a relative or other person, who is fit and willing to receive him at his place of residence and exercise proper care and control over him.

Where the parent or guardian of a child complaints to the Board that he is not able to control the child and that he desires the child to be sent to a children’s home or a fit person institution, the Board, if satisfied on enquiry that it is expedient so to deal with the child and the parent or guardian understands the results which will follow may order the child to be committed to a children’s home or a fit person institution.

(1) Whoever having the custody, charge, or care of any child wilfully assaults, ill-treats, neglects, abandons or exposes the child or causes him to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary mental or physical suffering shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. (2) The infliction of a reasonable punishment on a child for proper reason shall not be deemed to be an offence under this section.

If any person while having the physical custody of a child under the age of seven years is found drunk in any public street or other public place, whether a building or not and if such person is incapable by reason of his drunkenness, of taking due care of the child such person shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both.

Whoever gives or causes to be given to any child any intoxicating liquor or dangerous drug except under a prescription in writing of a Registered Medical Practitioner, or in case of sickness or other urgent cause shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both.

(1) Any police officer may, seize any beedies, cigarettes, tobacco, or smoking mixture in the possession of a child whom he finds smoking in any street or public place and any beedies, cigarettes, tobacco or smoking mixture so seized be disposed of in such manner as may be prescribed. (2) Any police officer finding a child smoking or in possession of any beedies, cigarettes, tobacco or smoking mixture in any street or public place shall see that information of the fact is given to the parent or guardian of the child.

Whoever takes a child to any place where intoxicating liquor or dangerous drug is sold or whoever being the proprietor, owner or a person incharge of such place, permits a child to enter such place or whoever causes or procures a child to go to such place shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

Whoever by words either spoken or written or by signs, or other-wise, incites or attempts to incite a child to make any bet or wage or to enter into or take any share or interest in any betting or wagering transaction or to borrow money or to enter into any transaction involving the borrowing of money, shall, on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

Whoever allows or permits a child over the age of four years to reside in or to frequent a brothel, shall, on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two years or with fine, which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

Any person, who causes or procures a child or being his parent or guardian allows him to take part in any public performance in which life or limbs are endangered, shall, on convicition, be punished with fine, which may extend to one hundred rupees and in the case of a second or subsequent offence, be punished with fine which may extend to three hundred rupees: Provided that no proceedings shall be taken under this section without the sanction of the Commissioner of Police in the cities of Hyderabad, and of the District Collector elsewhere.

Whoever – (a) Knowingly assists or induces, directly or indirectly a child or juvenile offender detained in a children’s home, certified school or fit person institution to escape from such home, school or institution or any child to escape from the custody of the person to whose care he has been committed under the provisions of this Act; or (b) Knowingly harbours, conceals, or prevents from returning to such home, school or institution or to any person with whom he is placed out on licence or to whose care he is committed under this Act, a child or juvenile offender who has so escaped or knowingly assists in so doing, shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both.

Whoever publishes any report or picture in contravention of the provisions of section 23 shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both.

(1) Where any police officer not below the rank of a sub-inspector or any other officer authorised in this behalf in the prescribed manner has reasonable ground to believe that an offence under this Act or under the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Woman and Girls Act, 1956 has been committed or is likely to be committed in respect of any child, he may take such child to a place of safety to be detained therein and shall produce such child before a competent authority within a period of twenty-four hours of such detention, excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of detention to the competent authority and no such child shall be detained in a place of safety beyond the said period without the authority of the competent authority. (2) If it appears to a competent authority from information given by any person on oath or solemn affirmation that an offence as stated in sub-section (1) has been or is being committed or, unless immediate steps are taken, will be committed in respect of any child the competent authority may issue a warrant authorising any police officer to search for such child and to take him to a place of safety to be detained therein or until he can be brought before it. (3) Where any child is brought before a competent authority under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), if the competent authority is satisfied that an offence as stated in sub-section (1) has been committed or is likely to be committed in respect of such child, the competent authority may, by order- (a) commit the child to a children’s home, or (b) commit the child to the care of any fit person, whether a relative or not, who is willing to undertake the care of him, or (c) direct his parent or guardian to enter a recognisance to exercise proper care and guardianship for such time as the competent authority deems fit but in no case beyond the time when the child completes the age of sixteen years in the case of a boy or eighteen years in the case of a girl. (4) The competent authority passing an order under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (3), may, in addition, order the child to be placed under supervision: Provided that if, on receiving a report from the probation officer or otherwise, it appears to the competent authority that the fit person, parent or guardian to whose care the child has been committed, has failed to exercise proper care or guardianship it may after such enquiry as it deems fit order the child to be detained in a children’s home.

Any court, by which a person is convicted of having committed in respect of a child, an offence mentioned in sub-section (1) of section 58, or before which a person is brought for trial for any such offence or by which a person is bound over to keep peace on account of his committing as offence in respect of a child, may direct that the child be produced before a competent authority for making such order as may be proper under sub-section (3) of section 58.

All offences under this chapter shall be cognizable.

(1) Where person who is apparently a child, is arrested or detained or appears or is brought before a juvenile court, on a charge of a bailable or non-bailable offence, such person shall, notwithstanding anything in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or in any other law for the time being in force, be released on bail with or without sureties, but he shall not be so released if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the release is likely to bring him into association with any notorious criminal or expose him to moral danger or where his release would defeat the ends of justice. (2) When such person having been arrested is not released on bail under sub-section (1), the officer-in-charge of the police station shall keep the child arrested by him in a place of a safety, not being a police station and shall produce him before the juvenile court or the nearest magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours of his arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court or the magistrate. (3) Where such person is not released on bail under sub-section (1) by the juvenile court, it shall instead of committing him to prison, make an order sending him to an observation home for such period during the pendency of the enquiry regarding him as may be specified in the order.

Where a child is arrested, the officer-in-charge of the police station to which the child is brought shall, as soon as may be, after the arrest inform– (a) the parent or guardian of the child, if he can be found on such arrest and direct him to be present at the juvenile court before which the child will appear; and (b) the probation officer and the officer-in-charge of an observation home, of such arrest in order to enable the probation officer and the officer-in-charge of the observation home to proceed forthwith to obtain information regarding the antecedents and family history of the child and other material circumstances likely to assist the competent court in making the inquiry regarding the child.

Where a child having been charged with an offence appears or is produced before a juvenile court, the court shall hold the inquiry in accordance with the provisions of section 12.

(1) Where a juvenile court is satisfied on inquiry that a child has committed an offence, the juvenile court, may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other law for the time being in force, and if it thinks fit- (a) allow the child to go home after advise or admonition; (b) direct that child to be released on probation of good conduct and placed under the care of its parent or guardian or other person executing such bond, with or without sureties, as the juvenile court may require, to be responsible for the good behaviour and well being of the juvenile offender for any period not exceeding three years: Provided that the juvenile court may, in the case of a juvenile offender in respect of whom an order under clause (b) is made, make a further order that the juvenile offender shall remain under the supervision of a probation officer named in such order during such period not exceeding three years as may be specified therein: Provided further that if at any time afterwards it appears to the juvenile court on receiving a report from the probation officer or otherwise that the juvenile offender has not been of good behaviour during the perod of supervision it may after such inquiry as it thinks fit order the juvenile offender to be sent to a certified school: (c) make an order directing the child to be sent to certified school,- (i) in the case of a boy over fifteen years of age or a girl over seventeen years of age for a period of one year. (ii) in the case of any other child, for a period of not less than two years but not in any case extending beyond the period when the child will, in the opinion of the court, complete the age of sixteen years in the case of a boy or eighteen years in the case of a girl. (2) (a) Where the offence committed by the juvenile offender is punishable with fine and the juvenile court is of opinion that the case would be best met by the imposition of a fine, whether with or without any other punishment, the court shall, after giving the parent or guardian an opportunity of being heard, order that the fine be paid by the parent or guardian of the child unless the court is satisfied that the parent or guardian cannot be found or that he has not conducted to the commission of the offence by neglecting to exercise due care of the child. (b) An order under clause (a) may be made against the parent or guardian who having been required to attend has failed to do so. (c) Whether a parent or guardian is directed to pay a fine under this section, the amount may be recovered in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other law for the time being in force, no juvenile offender shall be sentenced to death or imprisonment or committed to prison in default of payment of fine or in default of furnishing security. (2) When a child is found to have committed an offence of so serious a nature that the juvenile court is of opinion that no punishment, which under the provisions of this Act, it is authorised to inflict, is sufficient or when the juvenile court is satisfied that the child is of so unruly or of so depraved a character that he cannot be committed to a certified school or detained in a place of safety, and that none of the other methods in which the case may be legally dealt with is suitable, the court shall order the child to be kept in safe custody in such place or manner as it thinks fit and shall report the case for the orders of the Government. (3) On receipt of a report from a juvenile court under sub-section (2), the Government may make such arrangements in respect of the child as they deem proper and may order such child to be detained at such place and on such conditions as they think fit: Provided that the period of detention so ordered shall not exceed the maximum period of imprisonment specified for the offence committed.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 no proceedings shall be instituted and no order shall be passed against a child under Chapter VIII of the said Code.

In case of a juvenile offender, whose ordinary place of residence lies outside the jurisdiction of the juvenile court before which he is brought if the Court is satisfied after due inquiry that it is expedient so to do, the Court may send the juvenile offender back to a relative or other person, who is willing to receive him at his place of residence and exercise proper care and control over him, notwithstanding the fact that the juvenile offender has to be sent to a place outside the State.

(1) The competent authority, which makes an order for the detention of a neglected child in a children’s home or a juvenile offender in a certified school or for the commital of a neglected child or juvenile offender to the care of a relative or other fit person, may make an order on the parent or other person liable to maintain the child, to contribute towards his maintenance, if he is able to do so, in the prescribed manner. (2) The competent authority before making any order under sub-section (1) shall, inquire into the circumstances of the parent or other person liable to maintain the child and shall record evidence if any in the presence of the parent or such other person, as the case may be. (3) Any order under this section may be varied by the competent authority on an application made to it by the party liable or otherwise. (4) The person liable to maintain a child shall for the purposes of sub-section (1) include in the case of illegitimacy his putative father: Provided that where the child is illegitimate and an order for his maintenance has been made under sections 125 and 126 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the competent authority shall not ordinarily make an order for contribution against the putative father but may order the whole or any part of the payments accruing due under the said order for maintenance to such person or persons as may be named, to be applied by him or them, as the case may be, towards the maintenance of the child.

(1) In determining the children‟s home, certified school, fit person institution or other person to whose custody a child is to be committed or entrusted under this Act, the competent authority shall ascertain the religious persuasion to which the child belongs and shall, if possible, in selecting such children‟s home, certified school, fit person institution or other person have regard to the facilities which are afforded for instruction in his religion.

(2) When a child is committed to the care of a children‟s home or certified school where facilities for instruction in his religion are not afforded or is entrusted to the care of a fit person institution or other person under circumstances as it appears that no special facilities for the up-bringing of the child as per his religious practice exist, the authorities of such children‟s home, certified school or such fit person institution or such other person shall not bring up the child as per any religious practice other than that of the child.

(3) Where it is brought to the notice of the Chief Inspector or of the competent authority that a breach of sub-section (2) has been committed, it shall be open to the Chief Inspector or the competent authority to transfer the child from the custody of such home, school, institution or person.

(4) The children‟s home, certified school or fit person institution shall, wherever possible, provide for moral instructions to the children including juvenile offenders kept in such home, school or institution.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any law for the time being in force, any police officer may arrest without a warrant a child who has escaped from a children‟s home, certified school or a fit person institution or from the supervision of a society or a person under whose supervision he was directed to remain and shall send the child back to the home, school, institution, society or the person without registering any offence or prosecuting the child and the said child shall not be deemed to have committed any offence by reason of such escape, but he shall be dealt with by the authorities of the home, school, institution or society or the person concerned in such manner as they think fit, provided such authorities or person shall at the same time inform the action taken to the competent authority from which the child was originally sent.

The Government may, in the manner prescribed, provide,–

(a) for the establishment or recognition of after care organisations and the powers that may be exercised by them for effectively carrying out their functions under this Act;

(b) for a scheme of after-care programme to be followed by such after-care organisations for the purpose of taking care of children after they leave children‟s homes, certified school or fit person institution and for the purpose of enabling them to lead an honest, industrious and useful life;

(c) for the preparation and submission of a report by the probation officer in respect of each child prior to his discharge from a children‟s home, certified school or fit person institution as the case may be, regarding the necessity and nature of after-care of such child, the period of such after-care, supervision thereof and for the submission of a report by the probation officer on the progress of each such child;

(d) for the standards and the nature of services to be maintained by such after-care organisation;

(e) for such other matters as may be necessary for the purpose of effectively carrying out the scheme of after-care programme of children.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person aggrieved by an order made by a competent authority under this Act, may, within thirty days from the date of communication of such order, prefer an appeal to the Court of Session:

Provided that the Court of Session may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.

(2) No appeal shall lie from –

(a) any order of acquittal made by the juvenile court in respect of a child alleged to have committed an offence; or

(b) any order made by a Board in respect of a finding that a person is not a neglected child.

(3) No second appeal shall lie from any order of the Court of Session passed in appeal under this section.

The High Court may at any time, either of its own motion or on an application received in this behalf, call for the record of any proceeding in which any competent authority or Court of Session has passed an order, for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality or propriety of any such order and may pass such order in relation thereto, as it thinks fit:

Provided that the High Court shall not pass an order under this section adversely affecting any person without giving him an opportunity of being heard.

Save as otherwise, expressely provided by or under this Act, the procedure to be followed in hearing appeals or revision proceedings under this Act, shall be, as far as practicable, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(1) The Government may, at any time, order a child to be discharged from a children‟s home, certified school or fit person institution, either absolutely or on such conditions as the Government may approve:

Provided that adequate after-care service is provided for such child wherever possible.

(2) The Government may, in the interests of discipline or for any special reasons, order–

(a) a juvenile offender detained in a certified school, who has completed the age of sixteen years in the case of a boy or eighteen years in the case of a girl;

(b) any child over the age of sixteen years in the case of a boy and eighteen years in the case of a girl released on licence, who has committed a breach of the conditions of licence and who it is not advisable to send back to the same home, school or institution from which he has been released to be transferred to a Borstal School established under the law relating to Borstal Schools for the time being in force in the State:

Provided that the total period of detention of the child, or juvenile offender shall not be increased by the transfer.

(1) The Government may, in consultation with the manager of any children’s home, certified school or fit person institution in this State, consent to the transfer to that home, school or institution of any child or juvenile offender detained in a home, school or institution of a like nature in any other part of India by an order of a competent anthority, and upon such transfer of a child or juvenile offender to the home, school or institution in this State, the provisions of this Act shall apply to such child or juvenile offender. (2) The Government may direct any child or juvenile offender to be transferred from any children’s home, certified school or fit person institutions in this State to any home, school or institution of a like nature in any part of India in respect of which provision similar to that in this State, is made by the Government of that part of India under any law in force therein: Provided that no such child or juvenile offender shall be transferred under this sub-section without the consent of the concerned Government of that part of India.

(1) Where it appears to the Government that any child detained in a children’s home, certified school or fit person institution under any order of a competent authority is of unsound mind or a leper, the Government may, by an order setting for the grounds, of belief that the child is of unsound mind or a leper, order his removal to a mental hospital or leper asylum or other place of safe custody for being kept there for the remainder of the term for which he has to be detained under the orders of the competent authority or for such further period as may be certified by a medical officer to be necessary for the proper treatment of the child. (2) Where it appears to the Government that the child is cured of unsoundness of mind or of leprosy, the Government may, if the child is still liable to be kept in custody by an order direct the person having charge of the child to send him back to the children’s home, certified school or fit person institution from which he was removed, or if the child is no longer liable to be kept in custody order him to be discharged. (3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) the provisions of section 31 of the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 or section 14 of the Andhra Pradesh Leprosy Act, 1953 shall apply to every child confined in a mental hospital or leper asylum under sub-section (1) after the expiration of the period for which he was ordered to be detained; and the time during which a child is confined in a mental hospital or leper asylum under that sub-section, shall be reckoned as part of the period for which he may have been ordered by the competent authority to be detained: Provided that where the removal of a child due to the unsoundness of mind or leprosy is immediately necessary, it shall be open to the authorities of the institution in which the child is detained to apply to a Court having jurisdiction under the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 or the Andhra Pradesh Leprosy Act, 1953 as the case may be for an immediate order of committal to a mental hospital or a leper asylum until such time as the orders of the Government can be obtained in the matter.

The Chief Inspector may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, direct any child or juvenile offender to be transferred from one children’s home, certified school or fit person institution to another children’s home, certified school or fit person institution: Provided that the total period of detention of a child or a juvenile offender shall not be increased by such transfer.

(1) If in any case in which an information has been given, by any person under the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 58, the comoetent authority after such inquiry as it may deem necessary, is of opinion that such information was false and either frivolous or vexatious, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, direct that compensation to such an amount not exceeding Rs. 100, as it may determine, be paid by such informer to the person against whom the information was given. (2) Before making any order for the payment of compensation, the competent authority shall call upon the informer to show cause why he should not pay compensation and shall consider any cause which such informer may show. (3) The competent authority may, by the order directing payment of the compensation, further order that in default of payment the person ordered to pay such compensation shall suffer simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days. (4) When any person is imprisoned under sub-section (3), the provisions of sections 68 and 69 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, shall, so far as may be, apply. (5) No person, who has been directed to pay compensation under this section, shall by reason of such order, be exempted from any civil or criminal liability in respect of the information given by him but any amount paid as compensation shall be taken into account in any subsequent civil suit relating to such matter. (6) When an order for the payment of compensation is made under sub-section (1) the compensation shall not be paid to person ordered to receive it before the period allowed for the presentation of an appeal has expired or if an appeal has been filed, till it is disposed of.

When a juvenile offender is found to have committed any offence, the fact that he has been so found shall not have any effect under section 75 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, or operate as a disqualification for office or any employment or election under any law.

The provisions of Chapter XXXIII of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, shall, so far as may be, apply to bonds taken under this Act.

The Chief Inspector, Probation Officers, Inspectors and Assistant Inspectors of certified schools and children’s home and all other persons authorised or entitled to act under any of the provisions of this Act shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and of section 2 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

No suit, prosecution, or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Children Act, 1920, the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Children Protection Act, 1343 F, the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Children Act, 1951 are hereby repealed:

Provided that-

(a) juvenile courts established under any of the above Acts shall be deemed to be juvenile courts established under this Act;

(b) certified schools established under the above Acts shall be deemed to be certified schools established under this Act;

(c) all licences and certificates granted and transfers made under any of the above Acts shall be deemed to be granted or made under this Act;

(d) all cases, proceedings and appeals pending before any court under any of the above Acts shall be continued and disposed of by the said courts, notwithstanding anything in this Act, as if they were cases, proceedings and appeals under this Act;

(e) all appeals against orders of courts appointed under any of the above Acts, which would have laid under any of those Acts shall be deemed to be appeals from orders made by courts under this Act and shall be presented to the courts empowered to hear appeals under this Act and shall be disposed of accordingly;

(f) any appointment, notification, notice, rule or form made or issued under any of the above Acts shall continue to be in force and be deemed to have been made or issued under the provisions of this Act in so far as such appointment, notification, notice, order, rule or form is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and shall continue to be in force unless and until it is superseded by any appointment, notification, notice, order, rule or form made or issued under this Act.

The provisions of the Telangana Prevention of Begging Act, 1977 shall cease to apply to children to which this Act applies and section 8 of the Telangana General Clauses Act, 1891 shall apply on such cessor as if the said provisions had been repealed by a Telangana Act.