(3) The juvenile court shall have the exclusive jurisdiction to try cases in which a child is accused
of commission of an offence.
(4) Subject to subsection (3), on commencement of this Ordinance, all cases pending before a
trial court in which a child is accused of an offence shall stand transferred to the juvenile court having
jurisdiction.
(5) The juvenile court shall not, merely by reason of a change in its composition, or transfer of a
case under subsection (4), be bound to recall or rehear any witness who has given evidence and may
act on the evidence already recorded.
(6) On taking cognizance of an offence, the juvenile court shall decide the case within four
months.
5. No joint trial of a child and adult person.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in
section 239 of the Code, or any other law for the time being in force, no child shall be charged with or
tried for an offence together with an adult.
(2) If a child is charged with commission of an offence for which under section 239 of the Code,
or any other law for the time being in force such child could be tried together with an adult, the Court
taking cognizance of the offence shall direct separate trial of the child by the juvenile court.
6. Procedure of juvenile courts.—(1) A juvenile court shall, unless provided otherwise in this
Ordinance, follow the procedure provided for in the Code.
(2) A juvenile court shall not ordinarily take up any other case on a day when the case of a child
accused is fixed for evidence on such day.
(3) No person shall he present at any sitting of a juvenile court except—
(a) members and officers of the juvenile court;
(b) parties to the case before the juvenile court and such other persons who are directly
concerned with the proceedings including the police officers;
(c) such other persons as the juvenile court directs to be present; and
(d) guardian of the child.
(4) At any stage during the course of the trial of a case under this Ordinance, the juvenile court
may, in the interest of such child, decency or morality, direct any person to withdraw from court for
such period as the court may direct.
(5) Where at any stage during the course of the trial of a case, the juvenile court is satisfied that
the attendance of the child is not essential for the purposes of the trial, the juvenile court may
dispense with the attendance and proceed with the trial of the case in absence of the child.
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