28. Person who may be present before competent authority.-
(1)Save as provided in this Act, no person shall be present at any sitting of a competent authority, except-(a)any officer of the competent authority, or(b)the parties to the inquiry before the competent authority, the parent or guardian of the child and other person directly concerned in the inquiry including police officer [and legal practitioners] [Inserted by Act 15 of 1978, section 15]; and(c)such other persons as the competent authority may permit to be present.(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if at any stage during an inquiry, a competent authority considers it to be expedient in the interest of the child or on grounds of decency or morality that any person including the police officers, legal practitioners, the parent, guardian or the child himself should withdraw.the competent authority may give such direction, and if any person have him removed and may, for this purpose, cause to be used such force as may be necessary.(3)[ No legal practitioner shall be entitled to appear before a Board in any case or proceeding before it, except with the special permission of that Board.] [Substituted by the Act 15 of 1978, section 15]
