The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
48. Compounding of
offences .
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1. Any
offence punishable under section 25, sections 27 to 39, sections 45 to 47, or
any rule made under sub-section (3) of section 52 may, either before or after
the institution of the prosecution, be compounded, on payment for credit to the
Government of such sum as may be prescribed.
2. The
Director or legal metrology officer as may be specially authorised by him in
this behalf, may compound offences punishable under section 25, sections 27 to
39, or any rule made under sub-section (3) of section 52.
3. The
Controller or legal metrology officer specially authorised by him, may compound
offences punishable under section 25, sections 27 to 31, sections 33 to 37,
sections 45 to 47, and any rule made under sub-section (3) of section 52:
Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the
fine, which may be imposed under this Act for the offence so compounded.
4. Nothing
in sub-section (1) shall apply to person who commits the same or similar
offence, within a period of three years from the date on which the first
offence, committed by him, was compounded. Explanation.-For the purposes of
this sub-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.
5. Where
an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), no proceeding or further
proceeding, as the case may be, shall be taken against the offender in respect
of the offence so compounded.
6.
No
offence under this Act shall be compounded except as provided by this section.