73. Compounding of offences.- Any offence punishable under Sec. 50, Sec. 55, Sec. 56, Sec. 57, Sec. 58, Sec. 59, Sec. 60, Sec. 63, Sec. 64, Sec. 65, See. 66 or Sec. 67 may, either before or after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by the Director or such other officer as may be specially authorized by him in this behalf, on payment for credit to the Government of such sum as the Director or such other officer may specify: Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under this Act for the offence so compounded. (2) Nothing in subjection (1) shall apply to a person who commits the same or similar offence within a period of three years from the date on which the first offence, committed by him, was compounded. Explanation-For the purposes of this sub-section, any second or subsequent offence committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the offence was previously compounded, shall be deemed to be a first offence. (3) Where an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), no proceeding or further proceeding, as the case may be, shall be taken against the offender in respect of the offence so compounded and the offender, if in custody, shall be discharged forthwith. (4) No offence under this Act shall be compounded except as provided by this section. |
