26. Detention in the case of certain crimes committed by children.- (1) When a child is convicted of an offence of so serious a nature that the Court is of opinion that no punishment which under the provisions of this Act it is authorized to inflict is sufficient, the Court shall order the offender 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 1[State Government].
(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21, the 1[State Government] may order any such child to be detained in such place and on such conditions as 2[it thinks] fit, and whilst so detained the child shall be deemed to be in legal custody:Provided that no period of detention so ordered shall exceed the maximum period of imprisonment to which the child could have been sentenced for the offence committed:Provided also that at any time during the period of such detention the 1[State Government] may, if 2[it thinks] fit, direct that in lieu of such detention the youthful offender be kept in a reformatory school until he has attained the age of eighteen.
