21. Production of children before Court

Subject to subsections (2) and (3), every child who is taken into custody under section 13(1) shall within twenty-four hours of being so taken into custody, be brought before a Court.

Notwithstanding subsection (1), a child who is taken into custody under section 13(1) and is medically examined or treated under Part IV shall be produced before a Court within twenty-four hours of the completion of ~uch examination or treatment or, if such child is hospitalised, upon his discharge from the hospital.

Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), where it is not possible to bring a child who is taken into custody under section 13(1) before a Court within the time prescribed in subsections Ill and (2), such child shall be brought before a Magistrate who may direct that he be placed in a place of safety or, notwithstanding section 13(2), be committed to the care of a fit person until such time as he can be brought before a Court.