Section 22. Power to compound offences.

(1) A Kahcharai officer of rank not lower than that of Forest Ranger or such other person as may be specially empowered by the Minister-in-charge of the Forest Department in this behalf may— (a) compound any offence described in clauses (a) and (b) of section 20 if the accused pays the amount of Kahcharai leviable on the livestocks in respect of which the offence has been committed together with a penalty of not less than 25 per cent of such amount ; and (b) in case of other offences covered by section 20 at an amount not exceeding rupees twenty-five. (2) When the offence has been compounded, the accused, if in custody, shall be discharged, and the property, if any, seized shall be released and no further proceeding shall be taken against such person. (3) No offence shall be compounded, if more than 15 days have elapsed after the accused was arrested by or appeared before the officer competent to compound the offence. (4) If any Kahcharai officer without any reasonable cause refuses to compound an offence, the suspected person may, within 15 days of such refusal by the Kahcharai officer, apply to the next superior Kahcharai officer for the offence being compounded, and such next superior officer may compound the offence as provided in sub-section (1) or refuse to compound it.