19. Reporting of offences.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of1974)any person(including the child), who has apprehension that an offence under
this Act is likely to be committed or has knowledge that such an offence has been committed, he shall
provide such information to,—
(a) the Special Juvenile Police Unit; or
(b) the local police.
(2) Every report given under sub-section (1) shall be—
(a) ascribed an entry number and recorded in writing;
(b) be read over to the informant;
(c) shall be entered in a book to be kept by the Police Unit.
(3) Where the report under sub-section (1) is given by a child, the same shall be recorded under
sub-section (2) in a simple language so that the child understands contents being recorded.
(4) In case contents are being recorded in the language not understood by the child or wherever it is
deemed necessary, a translator or an interpreter, having such qualifications, experience and on payment of
such fees as may be prescribed, shall be provided to the child if he fails to understand the same.
(5) Where the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police is satisfied that the child against whom an
offence has been committed is in need of care and protection, then, it shall, after recording the reasons in
writing, make immediate arrangement to give him such care and protection including admitting the child
into shelter home or to the nearest hospital within twenty-four hours of the report, as may be prescribed.
(6) The Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police shall, without unnecessary delay but within a
period of twenty-four hours, report the matter to the Child Welfare Committee and the Special Court or
where no Special Court has been designated, to the Court of Session, including need of the child for care
and protection and steps taken in this regard.
(7) No person shall incur any liability, whether civil or criminal, for giving the information in good
faith for the purpose of sub-section (1).
20. Obligation of media, studio and photographic facilities to report cases.—Any personnel of the
media or hotel or lodge or hospital or club or studio or photographic facilities, by whatever name called,
irrespective of the number of persons employed therein, shall, on coming across any material or object
which is sexually exploitative of the child (including pornographic, sexually-related or making obscene
representation of a child or children) through the use of any medium, shall provide such information to
the Special Juvenile Police Unit, or to the local police, as the case may be.
21. Punishment for failure to report or record a case.—(1) Any person, who fails to report the
commission of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 19 or section 20 or who fails to record such
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offence under sub-section (2) of section 19 shall be punished with imprisonment of either description
which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.
(2) Any person, being in-charge of any company or an institution (by whatever name called) who fails
to report the commission of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 19 in respect of a subordinate
under his control, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with
fine.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to a child under this Act.
22. Punishment for false complaint or false information.—(1) Any person, who makes false
complaint or provides false information against any person, in respect of an offence committed under
sections 3, 5, 7 and section 9, solely with the intention to humiliate, extort or threaten or defame him,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.
(2) Where a false complaint has been made or false information has been provided by a child, no
punishment shall be imposed on such child.
(3) Whoever, not being a child, makes a false complaint or provides false information against a child,
knowing it to be false, thereby victimizing such child in any of the offences under this Act, shall be
punished with imprisonment, which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.
23. Procedure for media.—(1) No person shall make any report or present comments on any child
from any form of media or studio or photographic facilities without having complete and authentic
information, which may have the effect of lowering his reputation or infringing upon his privacy.
(2) No reports in any media shall disclose, the identity of a child including his name, address,
photograph, family details, school, neighbourhood or any other particulars which may lead to disclosure
of identity of the child:
Provided that for reasons to be recorded in writing, the Special Court, competent to try the case under
the Act, may permit such disclosure, if in its opinion such disclosure is in the interest of the child.
(3) The publisher or owner of the media or studio or photographic facilities shall be jointly and
severally liable for the acts and omissions of his employee.
(4) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be liable to
be punished with imprisonment of either description for a period which shall not be less than six months
but which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.