law: Children Act, 1960
  18. Bail and custody of children
  (1) When any person
  
  accused of a bailable or non-bailable offence and apparently a child is
  
  arrested or detained or appears or is brought before a children’s court, such
  
  person shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the 5[Code of
  
  Criminal Procedure, 1973], or in any other law for the time being in force, be
  
  released on bail with or without surety but he shall not be so released if
  
  there appear reasonable grounds for believing that the release is likely to
  
  bring him into association with any reputed criminal or expose him to moral
  
  danger or that his release would defeat the ends of justice.
  (2) When such person
  
  having been arrested is not released on bail under sub-section (1) by the
  
  officer-in-charge of the police station, such officer shall cause him to be kept
  
  in an observation home 3[or a place of safety] in the prescribed
  
  manner (but not in a police station or jail) until be can be brought before a
  
  children's court.
  (3) When such person
  
  is not released on bail under sub-section (1) by the children's court, it shall
  
  instead of committing him to prison, make an order sending him to an
  
  observation home 3[or a place of safety] for such period during the
  
  pendency of the inquiry regarding him as may be specified in the order.