Section 37 in Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002
37. Compounding of offences.
(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Authority or the Designated Officer or any officer authorized by the Government in this regard, as the case may be, may accept from any person who committed or who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence punishable under this Act other than the offences punishable under sub-section (2) of Section 35 of this Act,-(i)a sum of money as may be prescribed, by way of compounding of the offence.(ii)the Authority or Designated Officer or any other officer authorized by the Government in this regard, as the case may be, may reject to compound the offence for the reasons recorded in writing:(iii)the Authority or Designated Officer or any officer authorized by the Government in this regard, as the case may be, shall pass order to compound the offence or otherwise within a period as may be prescribed:(2)On payment of the sum of money in accordance with sub-section (1), any person in custody in connection with the offence shall be set at liberty and no proceedings shall be instituted or continued against such person in any criminal court.(3)The acceptance of the sum of money for compounding an offence in accordance with sub-section (1) by the authority or the Designated Officer shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal within the meaning of Section 300 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
