Section Text
Composition
any offence punishable under this Code, not being an offence punishable with imprisonment of offences.
only, or with imprisonment and also with fine, may, on an application of the accused person,
either before or after the institution of any prosecution, be compounded by a Gazetted
Officer, as the appropriate Government may, by notification, specify, for a sum of fifty per
cent. of the maximum fine provided for such offence, in the manner as may be prescribed.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to an offence committed by a
person for the second time or thereafter within a period of five years from the date— (i) of
commission of a similar offence which was earlier compounded; (ii) of commission of similar
offence for which such person was earlier convicted.
(3) Every officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to compound
an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of the appropriate Government.
(4) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in such manner
as may be prescribed.
(5) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no
prosecution shall be instituted in relation to such offence, against the offender in relation to
whom the offence is so compounded.
(6) Where the composition of any offence is made after the institution of any
prosecution, such composition shall be brought by the officer referred to in sub-section (1)
in writing, to the notice of the court in which the prosecution is pending and on such notice
of the composition of the offence being given, the person against whom the offence is so
compounded shall be discharged.
26 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—
(7) Any person who fails to comply with an order made by the officer referred to in
sub-section (1), shall be punishable with a sum equivalent to twenty per cent. of the
maximum fine provided for the offence, in addition to such fine.
(8) No offence punishable under the provisions of this Code shall be compounded
except under and in accordance with the provisions of this section