298. Punishment for offences under this Act and powers to compound.
(1)Whoever,-(a)erects, alters , adds to or reconstructs a building without the written permission required by section 64 or in contravention of any of the conditions imposed by it;(b)uses any place without a licence required by sections 66, 67, 68, and 69 or in contravention of any of the conditions or during the suspension of the licence; or(c)contravenes any other provision of the Act, shall on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, and in the case of a continuing offence with a fine which may extend to five rupees for every day after the first conviction during which the offence continues.(2)Upon a conviction under clause (b) of sub-section (1) in respect of any place, the magistrate shall on the application of the Grama Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat or Zilla Panchayat as the case may be, but not otherwise, order such place to be closed, and thereupon appoint such persons or take such other steps to prevent such place being so used; and every person who so uses or permits the use of a place after it has been ordered to be closed, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five rupees for each day during which he continues to use or permits such use of the place after it has been so ordered to be closed.(3)(a)A Grama Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat or Zilla Panchayat or such officer as the Zilla Panchayat may authorise in this behalf may accept by way of composition a sum of money not exceeding five hundred rupees from any person, who, in the opinion of the Grama Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat or Zilla Panchayat or the authorised officer, as the case may be, has committed,-(i)any of the aforesaid offences referred to in sub-section (1), or(ii)any other offence under this Act or under any rule, regulation or bye-law made thereunder which may by notification be declared by the Government as compoundable; and on such composition no proceeding shall be taken against such person in respect of such offence.(b)On the composition of any offence under clause (a) if proceedings in any criminal court have been instituted against the person concerned in respect of the offence the composition shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person in respect of such offence.
