Section 36. Compounding of offences

(1) On the application of a person, company of society accused of an offence under this Act, the immediate upper-level water users’ association or the competent canal officer as the case may be, may at any stage compound such offence by levying a composition fee not exceeding the fine which could be imposed for such offence: Provided that no compounding of offences shall be done in case of such a person, company or society, who had committed an offence under this Act twice before or whose land had been benefited twice before by such wrongful acts. (2) If the amount of the composition fee levied under sub section (1) remains unpaid, the immediate upper-level water users’ association or the competent canal officer, as the case may be, shall cause it to be recovered as arrears of land revenue.