Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Power to compound offences. - (1) [16The Central Government may, by notification empower the Director of Wildlife Preservation or any other officer and the State Government], may, by notification, empower the C-1-def Wildlife Warden or any officer or a rank not inferior to that of a Deputy Conservator of Forests, (a) to accept, from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed an offence against this Act, payment of a sum of money by way of composition of the offence which such person is suspected to have committed; and . (b) when any property that has been seized is liable to be forfeited, to release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer. (2) On 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, and the property, other than Government property, if any seized, shall be released and no further proceedings in respect of the offence shall be taken against such person. (3) The officer compounding any offence may order the cancellation of any licence or permit granted under this Act to the offender, or if not empowered to do so, may approach an officer so empowered, for the cancellation of such licence or permit. (4) The sum of money accepted or agreed to be accepted as composition under C1. (b) of sub-section (1) shall, in no case, exceed the sum of two thousand rupees. Provided that no offence, for which a minimum period of imprisonment has been prescribed in sub-section (1) of sec51, shall be compounded. [1755 Cognizance of offences. - No court shall take cognizance of any offence against this Act on the complaint of any person other than (a) the Director of Wildlife Preservation or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government; or (b) the Chief Wildlife Warden, or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government; or (c) any person who has given notice of not less than sixty days, in the mariner prescribed, of the alleged offence and of his intention to make a complaint, to the Central Government or the officer authorised as aforesaid.]18