Power to compound offences.

(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, empower a Gazetted Forest Officer- (a) to accept from any person, against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any forest offence, other than an offence specified in section 62 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (16 of 1927), a sum of money by way of compensation for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed; and (b) when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation, to release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer. (2) On the payment of such sum of money, or such value, or both, as the case may be, to such officer, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged, the property, if any, seized shall be released, and no further proceeding shall be taken against such person or property. (3) The sum of money accepted as compensation under clause (a) sub-section (1) shall in no case exceed the sum of Rs. 500 in each case.