(1)Should it appear to an Inspector that there is a reasonable ground for suspicion that there is no suitable arrangement for the care and maintenance of a child or that it is not being treated with justice and humanity, he shall make a report thereof to the District Officer.(2)On receipt of such report or on receiving information from any other source that there is no suitable arrangement for the care and maintenance of a registered child or that it is not being treated with justice and humanity or that any child has been received into, or is being maintained in any house in contravention of the provisions of section 5 or 6 or without making a report under section 7, the District Officer, after making such enquiry from the head of a household as he may consider fit, or, if he thinks fit, without making any such enquiry, may direct the Inspector to make preliminary investigation in the matter.(3)It shall be incumbent on every Police Officer, if he receives information that any child is being treated with injustice or inhumanity to make a report thereof to the District Officer through his superior officer.(4)The Inspector shall, on receipt of such information, proceed to the house of the head of a household and shall investigate the facts and during such investigation may exercise all the powers of a Police Station Officer vested under Chapter XIII of the Hyderabad Code of Criminal Procedure in respect of entry into and search of house, and recording of statements :Provided that, if the child is a female or if the evidence of any female in the house is required to be taken, the District Officer shall, as far as possible, direct an Inspectress or an Inspector and an Inspectress to make a joint investigation;(5)On receipt of the report of the Inspector, the District Officer -(a)may close the case by stating the reasons therefor; or(b)may direct the Superintendent of Police that after making further necessary investigation either the accused be prosecuted in a court of law or a further report be made to him on production of such report the District Officer may, after stating the reasons therefor, direct the Superintendent of Police to file a prosecution against the accused in a court of law.(6)If an order has been made under clause (a) of subsection (5) [Government] [As amended by Act no. 3 of 1308-F.] may, if it thinks fit, direct further investigation to be made or direct the Superintendent of Police to file the case in a court of law.Explanation. - When the Superintendent of Police is directed to make an investigation under this section, he may either make the investigation himself or direct such subordinate officer not below the rank of a Police Inspector (Sadr Ameen) as he may think fit.
