Section 41 Composition of certain offences
- Chapter
- VIII · Offences and Penalties
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), any offence punishable under this Act (whether committed by an individual or associationDefined in section 2(a): association means an association of individuals, whether incorporated or not, having an office in India and includes a society, whether registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or not, and any other organisation, by whatever name called or any officer or employee thereof), not being an offence punishable with imprisonment only, may, before the institution of any prosecution, be compounded by such officers or authorities and for such sums as the Central Government may, by notificationDefined in section 2(l): notification means notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression notify shall be construed accordingly in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to an offence committed by an individual or associationDefined in section 2(a): association means an association of individuals, whether incorporated or not, having an office in India and includes a society, whether registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or not, and any other organisation, by whatever name called or its officer or other employee within a period of three years from the date on which a similar offence committed by it or him was compounded under this section.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, any second or subsequent offence committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the offence was previously compounded, shall be deemed to be a first offence.
(3) Every officer or authority referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to compound an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Central Government.
(4) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made to the officer or authority referred to in sub-section (1) in such form and manner along with such fee as may be prescribedDefined in section 2(o): prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
(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) Every officer or authority referred to in sub-section (1), while dealing with a proposal for the compounding of an offence for a default in compliance with any provision of this Act which requires by an individual or associationDefined in section 2(a): association means an association of individuals, whether incorporated or not, having an office in India and includes a society, whether registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or not, and any other organisation, by whatever name called or its officer or other employee to obtain permission or file or register with, or deliver or send to, the Central Government or any prescribed authorityDefined in section 2(p): prescribed authority means an authority specified as such by rules made by the Central Government under this Act any return, account or other document, may, direct, by order, if he or it thinks fit to do so, any individual or associationDefined in section 2(a): association means an association of individuals, whether incorporated or not, having an office in India and includes a society, whether registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or not, and any other organisation, by whatever name called or its officer or other employee to file or register with, such return, account or other document within such time as may be specified in the order.