Compounding of offences

(1) Any offence punishable under this Act may, before the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by such officer as may be authorized by the State Government in this behalf, on payment, for credit to the State Government, of such sum as the State Government may, by notification, specify : Provided that such payment in any single case shall not exceed the fine prescribed for the same. (2) Where any offence has been compounded under sub-section (1) above, no proceeding shall be taken against the offender, in respect of the offence as compounded, and the offender, if in custody, shall be discharged.