(1) The State Government may, by notification, empower a Forest Officer not inferior in rank to that of a Divisional Forest Officer-
(a) to accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he had committed an offence punishable under this Act, a sum of money by way of compensation in lieu of prosecution for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed; and
(b) when any property other than forest produce has been seized THE HIMACHAL PRADESH FOREST PRODUCE (REGULATION OF TRADE) ACT, 1982 6 as liable to confiscation, to release the same on payment of the value thereof as may be determined by such officer.
(2) On the payment of such compensation or such value, or both, as the case may be, to such officer, the suspected person shall be discharged, the property, if any, seized shall be released, and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.
(3) The sum of money accepted as compensation under clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall in no case be less than rupees five hundred and exceed rupees two thousand.
(4) No case hereunder shall be compounded by any authority competent to compound without providing for the forfeiture of the forest produce involved in the said case to the Government.