Section 17. No prosecution for any offence punishable under this Act shall

17. No prosecution for any offence punishable under this Act shall Limitation be instituted against any person except by, or with the consent of, ,",fC$fgn. the Collector. 18. Any offence punishable under this Act may, either before or om position after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded[by the ] [of ~ffences. ] Collector or any other officer authorised by him in this behalf on payment to the Central Government, for the purposes of this Act, of such sum as the Collector or such officer, as the case may be, thinks fit.