PROVINCIAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE
N O T I F I C
A T I O N
No.PAP-Legis-2(7)/2004/636. The Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Bill
2004, having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of the
THE
ACT XVIII OF
2004
[First published, after having received the assent of the Governor of
the
in the Gazette of the
An
Act
to
consolidate the law for the rescue, protective custody, care and rehabilitation
of destitute and neglected children in the Province of the
Preamble.– Whereas it is expedient to consolidate the
law for the rescue, protective custody, care and rehabilitation of destitute
and neglected children in the Province of the Punjab other than those involved
in criminal litigation;
It is hereby enacted as
follows:-
PART I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1)
This Act may be called the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act 2004.
(2) It
extends to the Province of the
(3) It
shall come into force at once but shall take effect in such areas and from such
date as the Government may, by notification, specify.
2. Saving.– The Government may, by notification, direct that all or
any of the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any class of children in
the Province or in any particular area.
3. Definitions.– (1) In this Act, unless the context
otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the meanings hereby
respectively assigned to them, that is to say–
(a) “begging” means–
(i) soliciting or receiving alms in a public
or private place;
(ii) exposing or exhibiting any sore, wound,
injury, deformity or disease with the object of obtaining or extorting alms;
and
(iii) having no visible or known means of subsistence and found wandering about with the ostensible object of soliciting or receiving alms;
(b) “Board” means Board of Governors established under section 6 of this Act;
(c) “brothel” means any house, part of a house, room or place in which a prostitute carries on prostitution or any place or institution where facilities are known to be available for prostitution;
(d) “Bureau” means Child Protection and Welfare Bureau established under section 5 of this Act;
(e) “child” means a
natural person who has not attained the age of eighteen years;
(f) “child protection institution” means an institution for the admission, care, protection and rehabilitation of destitute and neglected children established or recognized under this Act or the rules;
(g) “child protection officer” means a person appointed under section 15 of this Act;
(h) “child protection unit” means a child protection unit established by the Bureau for a local area under section 16;
(i) “Code”
means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898);
(j) “Court”
means a
(k) “destitute and neglected child” means a child who–
(i) is found begging; or
(ii) is found without having any home or
settled place of abode and without any ostensible means of subsistence; or
(iii) has a parent or guardian who is unfit or
incapacitated to exercise control over the child; or
(iv) lives in brothel or with a prostitute or frequently visits any
place being used for the purpose of prostitution or is found to associate with
any prostitute or any other person who leads an immoral or depraved life; or
(v) is being or is likely to be abused or
exploited for immoral or illegal purpose or unconscionable gain; or
(vi) is beyond the parental control; or
(vii) has lost his parents or one of the
parents and has no adequate source of income; or
(viii) is victim of an offence punishable under
this Act or any other law for the time being in force and his parent or
guardian is convicted or accused for the commission of such offence;
(l) “Fund” means the Destitute and Neglected Children’s Welfare Fund established under section 18 of this Act;
(m) “Government”
means the Government of the
(n) “local
area” means a district, a city district, a tehsil or a town as defined in the
Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001 (XIII of 2001);
(o) “Member”
means Member of the Board;
(p) “narcotic drug” means any article defined as “narcotic drug” in the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997 (XXV of 1997);
(q) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules;
(r) “prostitution” means
illegal sexual intercourse for hire, whether for money or kind;
(s) “Province” means the Province of the
(t) “suitable person” means a person suitable for the custody of the destitute and neglected child.
(2) Words
and expressions used herein and not defined in this Act but defined in the Code
or the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, 2000 (XXII of 2000) shall have the
meanings respectively assigned to them in that Code or the Ordinance.
4. Initiation of proceedings about child under Part VII of this Act.– (1) Proceedings under Part VII of this Act can only be initiated about a child who has not attained the age of fifteen years notwithstanding that during the course of such proceedings he may have attained the age of fifteen years.
(2) In case of any dispute as to the age of a child, the Court shall decide the same in the first instance.
PART II
CHILD PROTECTION
AND WELFARE BUREAU
5. Establishment of the Bureau.– (1) As soon as may be after the commencement
of this Act, the Government shall establish a bureau to be known as the Child
Protection and Welfare Bureau.
(2) The Bureau shall be a body corporate, having
perpetual succession and a common seal with power, subject to the provisions of
this Act, to acquire land in accordance with law and hold properties both
movable and immovable and may sue and be sued by the said name.
(3) The Government may transfer state land or building, free of cost,
to be utilized for the purpose for which the Bureau is established.
6. Board of Governors.– (1) The Bureau shall have a Board of
Governors comprising the following:
(a) Chief Minister of the
(b) Minister or Advisor to the Government Chairperson
of the
(c) Secretary to the Government of the
Home
Department;
(d) Secretary to the Government of the
Social
Welfare Department;
(e) Secretary to the Government of the
Local
Government Department;
(f) Secretary to Government of the
Population
Welfare Department;
(g) Secretary to the Government of the
Education
Department;
(h) Secretary to the Government of the
Information,
Culture and Youth Affairs Department;
(i) Secretary to the Government of the
Health
Department;
(j) such other persons not exceeding seven as may be Members
appointed
by the Government for a specified period;
provided
that at least three of whom shall be members
of the
Provincial Assembly of the
members
from treasury benches and one member
from the
opposition; provided further that the
member from
the opposition shall be nominated
by the
Leader of the Opposition; and
(k) Director General of the
Bureau Member/Secretary.
(2) Six Members including at least three
ex-officio Members shall constitute quorum in a meeting of the Board.
(3) Decision shall be taken by the Board by simple majority and the
Chairperson shall have the casting vote in case of equality of votes.
7. Removal of a Member.– (1) A Member, not being an ex-officio
Member, shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government.
(2) The Government may remove any such Member during the tenure of his
office in the manner as may be prescribed.
(3) A Member, not being an ex-officio Member, may resign from his
office by tendering his resignation to the Government.
8. Casual vacancy.– Any vacancy caused due to the death,
resignation or removal of a Member other than an ex-officio Member, shall be
filled in by the Government through appointment of another person as Member and
such appointee shall, subject to the provisions of section 7, hold such office
for the unexpired term of his predecessor.
9. Powers and functions of the Board.– Subject to the provisions of this Act, the
Board shall exercise such powers and take such measures as may be necessary for
carrying out the purposes of this Act, including –
(a) to take steps for the establishment of a Fund in the manner
hereinafter provided, for carrying out the purposes of the Bureau;
(b) to establish, manage and recognize child protection
institutions;
(c) to exercise control over child protection institutions and
look after the operation and maintenance of all essential services provided in
the institutions;
(d) to regulate the affairs of the child protection
institutions;
(e) to arrange, purchase or acquire land wherever necessary
within the Province;
(f) to supervise prosecution of the persons accused of the
offences created under this Act;
(g) to sell or dispose of assets, movable or immovable, of the
Bureau in the manner as may be determined by the Board;
(h) to appoint and authorize employees with the designations and
the terms and conditions as the Board may determine;
(i) to authorize spending from the Fund;
(j) to delegate any of these powers and functions to a Member,
Members, official or officials of the Bureau;
(k) to
regulate its meetings and all matters connected with or ancillary to a meeting;
and
(l) to do such acts as are ancillary and incidental to the above
functions.
10. Management.– Executive authority and management of the
Bureau shall vest in the Board.
11. Committees of the Board.– The Board may constitute committees with
such powers, as may be delegated by the Board for carrying out the purposes of
this Act.
12. Special committee of the Bureau for a local area.–
(1)
The Board may constitute special committee of the Bureau for a local area.
(2) The special committee shall consist of such members
with the powers and functions of the Bureau, as may be devolved upon it by the
Board.
13. Director General.– (1)
There shall be a Director General of the Bureau who shall also be the chief
executive of the Bureau.
(2) The Director General shall be appointed by the Government for a
specified term.
(3) The Director General shall exercise such powers and perform such
functions as may be determined by the Board.
(4) The Director General may resign, during the term of his office, by
tendering his resignation to the Government.
(5) The Government may remove the Director General, during the tenure
of his office, in the manner as may be prescribed.
14. Annual progress report.– (1) The Director General shall prepare an
annual progress report at the end of each financial year.
(2) This
report shall be submitted in a meeting of the Board, whenever such meeting
takes place after the preparation of the report.
PART III
CHILD PROTECTION
OFFICERS AND CHILD PROTECTION UNIT
15. Appointment of the child protection officers.– (1)
The Bureau may appoint child protection officers to carry out the purposes of
this Act.
(2) The
Board shall determine the eligibility for appointment, terms and conditions of
service of the child protection officers.
(3) The
child protection officer may seek police assistance in performance of his
duties under the Act or the rules.
(4) A
station house officer shall provide appropriate police assistance to the child
protection officer, whenever such assistance is sought.
16. Child protection unit.–
(1) There shall be a child
protection unit for a local area.
(2) The
unit shall consist of such members as the Board may determine.
(3) The
unit shall exercise powers and functions devolved upon it by the Bureau.
17. Supervision and control of members of the unit.– A
member of the unit in the performance of his duties under this Act or rules,
shall be under the control, supervision and guidance of the Bureau.
PART IV
DESTITUTE AND
NEGLECTED CHILDREN’S WELFARE FUND
18. Destitute and Neglected
Children’s Welfare Fund.–
(1) The Bureau and each child protection institution shall establish a fund to
be known as Destitute and Neglected Children’s Welfare Fund.
(2) The Fund shall consist of all moneys received from any source by
the Bureau or a child protection institution, as the case may be, for the
control, care, protection and rehabilitation of destitute and neglected
children.
19. Audit of the Fund.–
(1) The Fund shall be kept, operated, spent and audited in such manner as may
be prescribed.
(2) The
Bureau as well as each child protection institution shall make the annual audit
report of the Fund available to general public as soon as such report is
prepared.
PART V
CHILD PROTECTION INSTITUTIONS
20. Establishment and recognition of child protection
institutions.– (1) The Bureau may establish and maintain child protection institutions
at any place in the Province.
(2) The
Bureau may delegate its powers and functions of managing and maintaining any
child protection institution to a local government or to a non-governmental
organization subject to the terms and conditions as the Board may determine.
(3) The Bureau may recognize any other institution to be a child
protection institution whether established and maintained by a local government
or any non-governmental organization.
(4) The Bureau may establish or recognize any association for the
aftercare and rehabilitation of destitute and neglected children discharged
from a child protection institution and may regulate its activities and functions
in the prescribed manner.
(5) The
Bureau may authorize any person or a body of persons to inspect, check and
supervise any child protection institution as to whether it is functioning in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, the rules or the regulations.
(6) In case a child protection institution is found acting in
contravention of this Act, the rules or the regulations, the Bureau may pass
such order as it deems fit for the proper management or maintenance of such
institution.
(7) No
order shall be passed by the Bureau under sub-section (6) unless the existing
management is provided with an opportunity of hearing.
21. Administration
and management of child protection institutions.– Child protection
institutions shall be managed, maintained and controlled in the manner as may
be prescribed.
PART VI
CHILD PROTECTION
COURTS
22. Establishment of the Child Protection Court.– (1) The Government may, by notification, establish one or more Courts under this Act for a local area.
(2) The Government may appoint presiding officer of the Court established for the purpose of this Act in consultation with the Lahore High Court and may lay down the qualifications, terms and conditions for the presiding officers.
(3) Until
a Court is established for a local area, the Lahore High Court may confer
powers of the Court for a local area upon a Sessions Judge or an Additional
Sessions Judge.
23. Powers and functions of the Court.– (1)
The Court shall exercise powers conferred and functions assigned to it under the
provisions of this Act or the rules.
(2) The
Court shall finally decide a case within one month from the date of production
of a child before it.
(3) Provisions
of the Code and the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (P.O. No. X of 1984), unless
otherwise expressly provided by this Act or the rules, shall not apply to
proceedings before the Court.
(4) No
appeal or revision shall lie against any order of the Court, however, the Court
may, at any stage, recall or modify its earlier order in the interest of justice.
(5) The
Court, exercising powers under this Act, shall be deemed to be a Court of
Sessions in terms of section 476 of the Code.
PART VII
RESCUE, CUSTODY, CARE, PROTECTION AND
REHABILITATION OF
DESTITUTE AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
24. Rescue of destitute and neglected children.– A
child protection officer may take into custody a destitute and neglected child
and produce him before the Court within twenty-four hours of taking the child
into such custody:
Provided that where a destitute and
neglected child is in the custody of his parent or guardian, the officer shall
not take him into custody but shall in the first instance, make a report to the
Court:
Provided further that the
first proviso shall not be applicable in case of a child who is found begging or is a victim of an offence alleged to have been committed
by his parent or guardian.
25. Temporary custody.– Whenever a destitute and neglected child is
taken into custody in accordance with section 24, he shall immediately be
produced before the Court and if immediate production of the child before the
Court is not possible due to any reason, shall immediately be taken to the
nearest child protection institution for temporary custody till his production
before the Court within the stipulated time.
26. Court may direct production of child by parent
or guardian.– The Court to which a report is made under the first proviso of section
24, may –
(i) call upon such
parent or guardian to produce the child before it and show cause why the said
child should not, during the pendency of the proceedings, be removed from his
custody; and may order the child to be admitted in a child protection
institution or on suitable surety being offered for the safety of such child
and for his being brought before it, permit the child to remain in the custody
of his parent or guardian; or
(ii) if it appears to the Court that the child is likely to be
removed from the jurisdiction of the Court or is concealed, may issue a search
warrant for the production of the child, and order his immediate admission to a
child protection institution.
27. Examination of person producing or reporting.– (1)
The Court before which a child is brought under section 24 or is produced under
section 26 shall examine on oath the person who has brought the child or made
the report and record the substance of such examination and may order the
admission of the child to a child protection institution pending any further
inquiry, if any.
(2) On
the date fixed for the production of the child or for the inquiry or on any
subsequent date to which the proceedings may be adjourned, the Court shall hear
and record substance of the evidence which may be adduced and consider any
cause which may be shown why an order directing the child to be admitted to a
child protection institution or be given in the care of a suitable person
should not be passed.
28. Entrustment of the custody of destitute and
neglected child.– (1) If the Court is satisfied that the child brought before it, is a
destitute and neglected child and that it is expedient to deal with him, the
Court may order that he be admitted to a child protection institution or his
custody be entrusted to a suitable person, who is able and willing to look
after the child, until such child attains the age of eighteen years, or in
exceptional cases for a shorter period.
(2) The
Court which makes an order for entrusting a child in the custody of a suitable
person may, when making such an order, require such person to execute a bond,
with or without sureties, as the Court may require, undertaking to be
responsible for the care, education and well-being of the child and for the
observance of such other conditions as the Court may impose for ensuring
welfare of the child.
(3) The
Court that makes an order for entrusting the custody of a child to a suitable
person under this section may order submission of periodical reports as to the
welfare of the child to the Court by an authorized officer.
(4) The
Court may from time to time during the custody of a child by an authorized
person, compel the production of the child in the Court to satisfy itself that
the conditions of such custody are being carried out.
(5) If
at anytime it appears to the Court, from information received from any source
that there has been a breach of any condition contained in the bond, it may,
after making such inquiry as it deems fit, order the child to be admitted into
a child protection institution or be entrusted to the custody of any other
suitable person.
29. Sending of child having place of residence
outside jurisdiction.– (1) In the case of a destitute and
neglected child whose ordinary place of residence is not within the
jurisdiction of the Court, the Court may direct that the child be kept in such
custody and be produced before a Court having territorial jurisdiction over the
place of residence of the child or to deal with his custody in any other manner
provided in the Act.
(2) Where a child is produced before a Court on the direction of any
other Court passed under the foregoing provision of this section, such Court
may regulate the custody of the child as if the child had been produced before
it in terms of section 24 of this Act.
30. Warrant to search for child.– (1) If it appears to a Court from
information received on oath or solemn affirmation laid by any person who, in
the opinion of the Court, is acting in the interest of the child that there are
reasons to believe that a child is destitute and neglected child, the Court may
issue warrant for the production of the child before it.
(2) The officer executing the warrant shall be accompanied by the
person laying the information, if such person so desires and may also, if the Court by whom the warrant is issued so directs, be
accompanied by a duly qualified medical practitioner or the police or both.
(3) If
any such child is brought before the Court and the Court is satisfied that the
child is a destitute and neglected child, it may deal with his custody in
accordance with the provisions of this Act.
31. False, frivolous or vexatious
information.– (1) If in any case in which information has been laid before a Court by
any person under the provisions of section 30, the Court after such inquiry as
it may deem necessary, is of the opinion that such information is false,
frivolous or vexatious, the Court may, for reasons to be recorded in writing,
direct that compensation, not exceeding fifty thousand rupees, as it may
determine, be paid by such informer to the child or to an aggrieved person
against whom the information was laid.
(2) Before
making any order for the payment of compensation, the Court shall call upon the
informer to show cause why he should not pay
compensation.
(3) The
Court may, by its order directing payment of compensation, further order that
in case of default, the person ordered to pay such compensation shall suffer
simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
(4) No
person who has been directed to pay compensation under this section shall, by
reason of such order, be exempted from any civil or criminal liability in
respect of the information given by him, but any amount paid, as compensation
shall be taken into account in any subsequent civil suit relating to such
matter.
(5) When an order for payment of compensation is made under sub-section
(1), the compensation shall not be paid to the person ordered to receive it
before the expiry of one month in order to allow sufficient time to the
informant to represent against any such order.
32. Period of custody.– Subject to any order of the Court or any
direction of the Bureau, a child ordered to be admitted to a child protection
institution shall be kept in such custody till he attains the age of eighteen
years.
33. Contribution of parents.– (1) Where an order has been made for the
admission of a child into child protection institution or giving the custody of
the child to a suitable person, the Court may direct a parent, in a suitable
case, to pay maintenance of the child at such rates as may be determined by the
Court:
Provided that while
passing any such order, the Court shall take into consideration the capacity of
the parent to pay maintenance.
(2) In
case of non-compliance of the direction for the payment of maintenance issued
under sub-section (1), the Court may recover the amount from the parent as
arrears of land revenue.
PART VIII
SPECIAL OFFENCES
RELATING TO CHILDREN
34. Unauthorized custody.–
Whoever takes a destitute
and neglected child into custody or keeps him in contravention of the
provisions of this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand
rupees or with both.
35. Cruelty to children.– Whoever, not being a parent, having the
actual charge of or control over a child, wilfully assaults, ill-treats,
neglects, abandons or exposes him or causes or procures him to be assaulted,
ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed or negligently fails to provide
adequate food, clothes or medical aid or lodging for the child in a manner
likely to cause such child unnecessary mental and physical suffering, shall be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with
fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both:
Provided that where some punishment is
administered to a child by the person having lawful control or custody of the
child, for any good or sufficient reason, it shall not be deemed to be an
offence under this section.
36. Employing child for begging.– Whoever employs any child for the purpose
of begging or causes any child to beg or whoever having the custody, charge or
care of a child connives at or encourages his employment for the purpose of
begging and whoever uses a child, connives at or encourages his employment for
begging shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees
or with both.
37. Giving intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug to
child.– Whoever gives or causes to be given to any child any intoxicant or
narcotic drug, except upon the prescription of duly qualified medical
practitioner, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a
term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to fifty
thousand rupees or with both.
38. Permitting child to enter places
where liquor or narcotic drugs are sold.– Whoever–
(i) takes a child to any place where an intoxicant is served or
consumed; or
(ii) being the proprietor, owner or a person in charge of such
place, permits a child to enter such place; or
(iii) causes or procures a child to go to such place;
shall be punished with fine which may extend to
fifty thousand rupees.
39. Inciting child to bet or borrow.–
Whoever, by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or otherwise, incites or
attempts to incite a child to make any bet or wager or to enter into or take
any share or interest in any betting or wagering transaction shall be punished
with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which
may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
40. Exposure to seduction.– Whoever secures custody
of a child ostensibly for any purpose but exposes such a child to the risk of
seduction, sodomy, prostitution or other immoral conditions, shall be punished
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three
years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
41. Abetting escape of child.– Whoever –
(a) knowingly assists or
induces, directly or indirectly, a child admitted in a child protection institution
to escape from the institution or from the custody of a suitable person to whom
custody of the child has been entrusted by the Court; or
(b) knowingly harbors,
conceals, connives at or prevents from returning to a child protection
institution or to any person to whom the custody of the child was entrusted by
the Court or assists or connives at so doing;
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years
or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
42. Offences under this part
cognizable.– All offences under this part shall be cognizable.
43. Application of the Code.–
All offences under this
part shall be investigated, tried and punished in accordance with the procedure
prescribed in the Code.
PART IX
MISCELLANEOUS
44. Discharge of a child from a child protection
institution or from the care of any person to whose care he was entrusted.– (1) The Bureau may at any time order a
child to be discharged from a child protection institution, either absolutely
or on such conditions as the Bureau deems appropriate.
(2) The
Court may, at any stage, on application or otherwise, discharge a child from
custody of a child protection institution or suitable person, as the case may
be, either absolutely or on such conditions as the Court deems appropriate.
45. Transfers between institutions of like nature
in different parts of Pakistan.– (1) The Bureau may, in consultation with
the manager of a child protection institution, transfer the custody of the
child to any other such institution in any part of the Province.
(2) A
destitute and neglected child shall normally be kept in an institution that is
at or nearest to his place of domicile.
(3) The
Court having jurisdiction over the local area of the Province where a child is
being kept may exercise all the powers of the Court under this Act or the
rules.
(4) The
Government may direct any child to be transferred from any child protection
institution in the Province to any institution of like nature in any other
Provided that no child
shall be so transferred without the consent of the Government of that other
Province.
46. Officers to be public servants.– The Officers appointed or authorized under
this Act shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21
of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (XLV of 1860).
47. Protection of action taken
under this Act.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall be instituted or
entertained against any person, acting or purporting to act under this Act or
the rules, in good faith and for the welfare of a child.
48. Act to over-ride other laws.–
Provisions of this Act
shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the
time being in force.
49. Power of Government to make rules.– The
Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the purposes of
this Act.
50. Power of Bureau to frame regulations.–
Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules, the Bureau may frame
regulations for giving effect to the provisions of this Act.
51. Repeal and Saving.– (1) The Punjab Children Ordinance, 1983
(XXII of 1983) is hereby repealed.
(2) The
Punjab Youthful Offenders Ordinance, 1983 (XXIII of 1983) is also hereby
repealed.
(3) The
Punjab Supervision and Control of Children Homes Act, 1976 (XVI of 1976) is
also hereby repealed.
(4) Notwithstanding
the repeal of the Ordinances and the Act anything done, action taken,
obligation, liability, penalty or punishment incurred, inquiry or proceeding
commenced, officer appointed or person authorized, jurisdiction or power
conferred, rule made and order or notification issued under any of the
provisions of the said Ordinances or the Act shall, if not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act, be continued and so far as may be, deemed to have
been respectively done, taken, incurred, commenced, appointed, authorized,
conferred, made or issued under this Act.
(5) All Children Homes established and functioning under the Punjab
Supervision and Control of Children Homes Act, 1976 (XVI of 1976) shall be
deemed to be the Child Protection Institutions established or recognized under
this Act.
SAEED
AHMAD
Acting
Secretary