Section 36. Limitation of prosecution Courts empowered to try offences under this Act

36. (1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act or the rules made thereunder, except on complaint in writing made within six months of the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed. (2) No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the Second Class shall try any offence under this Act, or the rules made thereunder. 1[(3) The Chief Inspector may, subject to any general or special order the State Government in this behalf, compound any offence punishable under this Act, either before after the institution of the prosecution, on realization of such amount of composition fee as he thinks fit not exceeding the maximum amount of fine fixed for the offence ; and where the offence is so compounded — (i) before the institution of the prosecution, the offender shall not be liable to prosecution for such offence and shall, if in custody, be set at liberty ; (ii) after the institution of the prosecution, the composition shall amount to acquittal of the offender.]