Section 3: Constitution of Juvenile Court

3. Constitution of Juvenile Court (1) District Courts sitting for the purpose of hearing any charge against a juvenile or of exercising any other jurisdiction conferred on Juvenile Courts by or under this Act or any other enactment shall be known as Juvenile Courts. (2) (a) The President may, by Proclamation, specify the places in which Juvenile Courts are to sit. (b) Notwithstanding the Courts Act, the President may, specify places other than District Courts. (3) Every Juvenile Court shall be held by and before a Magistrate exercising jurisdiction as such in the district where the Juvenile Court is required by Proclamation of the President to sit. (4) (a) Notwithstanding any other enactment but subject to paragraph (b), every Magistrate sitting in the Juvenile Court and before whom any juvenile is charged with having committed an offence, other than an offence under sections 50 to 76, 216 to 223, 228 (3) and 229 of the Criminal Code shall have power and jurisdiction, in whatever district the offence has been committed, and whatever may be the minimum punishment imposed by law with respect to the offence so charged, to hear, try and determine the charge and all questions of fact and law arising in the case and to convict the juvenile and, on conviction, to impose on him any penalties not exceeding the maximum penalties applicable to the offence of which the juvenile is convicted. (b) No Magistrate shall inflict on any young person imprisonment with or without hard labour for more than one year or any fine exceeding 1,000 rupees. (5) Subject to this Act, the Courts Act and the District and Intermediate Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act shall apply to Juvenile Courts and all the powers given to or duties imposed upon a Magistrate exercising criminal jurisdiction in a District Court are hereby given to and imposed upon a Magistrate sitting in a Juvenile Court. [S. 3 amended by Act 48 of 1991.]