Synopsis

Abstract
Compounding is a settlement mechanism under which the party in default or the
offender pays some prescribed amount of money to the competent authority in
lieu of getting prosecuted.
Introduction
The maxim interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium indicates that it would be in
the best interests of the state to keep litigation to a minimum. Compounding an
offence indicates that the individual with whom the crime has been perpetrated
has acquired some compensation from the accused, not exclusively of a
monetary nature, to avoid the litigation process. The provision is provided by
Section 320 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC).

Research questions

What are compoundable offences?

Difference between compoundable and non-compoundable offences?
Nature of crimes that can be termed as compoundable offence: -
i. Offences that do not need permission from court
ii. Offences that need permission from court
Legal provisions that deal with compoundable offences.
i. Compoundable offences under criminal law
ii. Compoundable offense under various other laws
 Legal service authorities Act, 1987
 Foreign exchange management Act, 1999
 Companies Act, 2013
Decriminalization of compoundable offences?

Case Laws

 Mahalovya Gauba v. the State of Punjab and Another (2021)

 Surendra Nath Mohanty v. the State of Orissa (1999)
 Biswabahan Das v. Gopen Chandra Hazarika & Ors (1967)

References

 http://odishapolicecidcb.gov.in/?q=node/145
 https://lawrato.com/indian-kanoon/criminal-law/what-is-a-
compoundable-and-non-compoundable-offense-in-india
 611#:~:text=Compoundable%20offenses%20are%20those
%20offenses,charges%20dropped%20against%20the%20accused
 https://bnblegal.com/article/compoundable-offenses/
 237Th Report on Compounding Of (Ipc) offenses