68. (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, empower a Forest-officer ¹[not inferior to that of a Ranger] -(a) to accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any forest-offence, other than an offence specified in ²[section 26 (1A) or section 33 (1A) or] section 62 or section 63, a sum of money by way compensation for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed, and(b) when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation, to release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer ³[and verified by another officer not below to the rank of a Divisional Forest Officer].(2) On the payment of such sum of money, or such value, of both as the case may be, to such officer, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged, the property, if any, seized shall be released, and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.(3) [Omitted by section 29 of the Forest (Amendment) Act, 1990 (Act No. VIII of 1990).]