359. Compounding of offences.

(1) The offences punishable under the sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 specified in the first two columns of the Table next following may be compounded by the persons mentioned in the third column of that Table.

(2) When any offence is compoundable under this section, the abetment of such offence or an attempt to commit such offence (when such attempt is itself an offence) or where the accused is liable under section 3 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 to be punished as if he had committed such offence, may be compounded in like manner.

(3) When the person who would otherwise be competent to compound an offence under this section is under the age of eighteen years, or is an idiot, or is a lunatic, any person competent to contract on his behalf, may, with the permission of the Court, compound such offence.

(4) When the accused has been committed for trial or when he has been convicted and an appeal is pending, no composition for the offence shall be allowed without the leave of the Court to which he is committed, or, as the case may be, before which the appeal is to be heard.

(5) The composition of an offence under this section shall have the effect of an acquittal of the accused with whom the offence has been compounded.

(6) No offence shall be compounded except as provided by this section.