Section 19. Application for being kept in a protective home or provided care and protection by court.

1[19. Application for being kept in a protective home or provided care and protection by court.--(1) A 2[person] who is carrying on, or is being made to carry on, prostitution, may make an application, to the magistrate within the local limits of whose jurisdiction he is carrying on, or is being made to carry on prostitution, for an order that he may be-- (a) kept in a protective home, or (b) provided care and protection by the court in the manner specified in sub-section (3). (2) The magistrate may, pending inquiry under sub-section (3), direct that the 2[person] be kept in such custody as he may consider proper, having regard to the circumstances of the case. (3) If the magistrate, after hearing the applicant and making such inquiry as he may consider necessary, including an inquiry by a probation officer appointed under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (20 of 1958), into the personality, conditions of home and prospects of rehabilitation of the applicant, is satisfied that an order should be made under this section, he shall, for reasons to be recorded, make an order that the applicant be kept,-- (i) in a protective home, or (ii) in a corrective institution, or (iii) under the supervision of a person appointed by the magistrate, for such period as may be specified in the order.]