Definitions

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