(1)When a child accused of any non-bailable offence is arrested, appears or is brought before a children's court such person shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Central Act 5 of 1898), or in any other law for the time being in force, be released on bail with or without surety but he shall not be so released if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that the release is likely to bring him into association with any reputed criminal or that his release would defeat the purpose of this Act.(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), when a child, who is a girl, is arrested on a charge of a non-bailable offence and cannot be brought forthwith before a court, the officer-in-charge of a police station who has made the arrest or before whom the girls is produced shall release her at once, if any person who is in his opinion is a sufficient surety and enters into a bond for such sum of money as the officer considers sufficient to produce her before the court and to appear in her stead if required at the police station.(3)When such person having been arrested is not released on bail under sub-section (2), he shall be kept in an observation home in the prescribed manner until he can be brought before a children's court.(4)When such person is not released on bail under sub-section (1) by the children's 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 inquiry as may be specified in the order.
