(1) Any offence punishable under this Act, -
(a) in the case of a manufacturer, before the institution of the prosecution, may be compounded, on payment of an amount of not less than rupees fifty thousand for credit to the concerned local authority:
Provided that the compounding amount shall not be less than rupees one lac for any subsequent offence;
(b) in the case of any user, before the institution of the prosecution, may be compounded, on payment of an amount of not less than rupees two thousand for credit to the concerned local authority:
Provided that compounding amount shall not be less than rupees four thousand for any subsequent offence.
(2) Where any offence has been compounded under sub-section
(1), no proceedings shall be taken against the offender, in respect of the offence so compounded, and if the offender is in custody, he shall be discharged immediately.
18. Any person aggrieved by an order made by a local authority under Section 13, may within a period of forty-five days from the date on which the order is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to such authority, as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
The appellate authority after hearing the parties, may either accept the appeal or in case, it is not satisfied with the contentions made by the appellant, it may reject the appeal.
19. The State Government may, from time to time, issue to the local authority such directions, as in its opinion, are necessary or expedient for carrying out the purposes of this Act and the Rules made thereunder and the local authority shall comply with the directions so issued.
20. Where it is expedient so to do, the State Government, in consultation with the Public Analyst, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, add to or omit from the Schedule appended to this Compounding of offences.
Appeals.
Powers of State Government to issue directions to the local authority.
Power to amend Schedule.
Act any item and thereafter, the Schedule shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly.
21. The State Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, delegate any power exercisable by it under this Act, except the power to make rules under Section 25 to such officer or an authority, as may be specified.
22. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the State Government or the local authority or any officer or other employee of the State Government or of the local authority or any other person or authority, authorized by the State Government, for anything, which is done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act or the rules made thereunder.