Power to compound offences

Power to compound offences. (1) The State Government may, subject to such conditions as may be specified, by notification, empower a 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 under section 72 or section 73 or section 86 or section 87, a sum of money not exceeding fifty thousand rupees, by way of composition for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed; (b) when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation subject to section 71G, to release, the same on payment of the value thereof as may be prescribed. (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 proceedings shall be taken against such person or property. (3) A Forest Officer shall not be empowered under this section, unless he is a Forest Officer of rank not inferior to that of a Range Forest Officer.