Compounding of offences

(1) Any offence punishable under section 8 or any rule made under section 12 may, either before or after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by the Commissioner of Labour or such other officer as may be authorised in this behalf by the Commissioner of Labour, on payment, for credit to the Government of such sum as the Commissioner of Labour or such other officer may specify:

Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of fine which may be imposed under this Act for the offence so compounded.

(2) 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.

(3) No offence punishable under this Act shall be compounded except as provided by this section.