Section 26 of The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025: Compounding of certain offences.
The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025
About this Act
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to regulation of coastal shipping, promote coasting trade and encourage domestic participation therein, to ensure that India is equipped with a coastal fleet, owned and operated by the citizens of India for its national security and commercial needs, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, any offence punishable under sections 15, 17, 19 and 20, may, before or after the institution of prosecution, be compounded by an officer designated by the Central Government by notification in this behalf, on payment for credit to the Central Government of such sum and in such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under this Act for the offences so compounded:
Provided further that in case of subsequent offence, the same shall not be compounded.
(2) The officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to compound an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Central Government.
(3) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(4) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no prosecution shall be instituted against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so compounded.
(5) Where the compounding of any offence is made after the institution of any prosecution, such composition shall be brought by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), in writing, to the notice of the court in which the prosecution is pending and on such notice for compounding the offence being given, the person against whom the offence is so compounded shall be discharged.
(6) Any person who fails to comply with an order of compounding made by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), shall be liable to pay a sum equivalent to twenty per cent. of the maximum fine provided for the offence, in addition to fine provided for the said offence.
(7) No offence punishable under this Act shall be compounded except in accordance with the provisions of this section.
Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under this Act for the offences so compounded:
Provided further that in case of subsequent offence, the same shall not be compounded.
(2) The officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to compound an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Central Government.
(3) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(4) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no prosecution shall be instituted against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so compounded.
(5) Where the compounding of any offence is made after the institution of any prosecution, such composition shall be brought by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), in writing, to the notice of the court in which the prosecution is pending and on such notice for compounding the offence being given, the person against whom the offence is so compounded shall be discharged.
(6) Any person who fails to comply with an order of compounding made by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), shall be liable to pay a sum equivalent to twenty per cent. of the maximum fine provided for the offence, in addition to fine provided for the said offence.
(7) No offence punishable under this Act shall be compounded except in accordance with the provisions of this section.
Notes
1. Subs. by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-7-2026, vide S.O. 3259(E), dated 20-6-2026).