When a person is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence punishable under the Act or the rules made thereunder, a canal officer considers that it should be compounded, he shall issue a notice in writing under his signature to such person requiring him to attend at the time and place specified in the notice. It need not be in duplicate and shall be served on the person concerned by any person deputed by the canal officer. The person to whom the notice is tendered shall sign it or put his thumb mark thereon by way of acknowledgement and return it to the server. If he refuses to accept the notice or avoids the service thereof the server shall report the fact to the canal officer.
