Section 44 of Bombay Children Act, 1948

Examination of police officer or person producing or reporting. - (1) The court before which a child is brought under section 40 or 41 shall examine the police officer [or the Child Welfare Officer (Probation)] or the authorised person who brought the child or made the report and record the substance of such examination and shall, as provided in section 43, sent the child to [an Observation Home] for further inquiries. (2) On the date fixed for the production of the child or for the inquiry or on any subsequent date to which the proceedings may be adjourned, the Court shall hear and record all evidence which may be adduced and consider any cause which may be shown why an order committing the child to a [Classifying Centre] or to the care of a fit person should not be passed and make any further inquiry it thinks fit.