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CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION
(a)
any person who is the parent or legal guardian of a
child, or who is legally liable to maintain the child,
shall be presumed to have the custody of the child, and
as between father and mother, neither shall be deemed
to have ceased to have such custody by reason only that
the father or mother has deserted, or otherwise does not
reside with, the other parent and the child;
(b) any person to whose charge a child is committed by
any other person who has the custody of the child shall
be presumed to have charge of that child;
(c)
any other person having actual possession or control
of a child shall be presumed to have the care of the
child.
Objects
of
AC ~ .
3.
The objects of this Act are-
(a)
to promote the best interests, safety and well-being of
children;
(b) to recognize that-
(i) while parents often need help in caring for
children, help should give support to the
autonomy and integrity of the family unit
and wherever possible, be provided on the
basis of mutual consent;
(ii) the least restrictive or disruptive course of
action that is available and appropriate in a
particular case to help a child should be
followed;
(c) to recognize that child services should be provided in a
manner that-
(i) respects the child's need for continuity of
care and for stable family relationships; and
(ii) takes into account physical and mental
differences among children in their
development;
[The inclusion
of
this page is authorized
by
L.N.
111120051