RAM SINGH,KARNAL vs. ADDI. CIT RANGE, KARNAL

Briefly the facts are, the assessee is a resident individual. For the impugned assessment year, the assessee did not file any return of income under section 139(1) of the Act on the ground that except agricultural income, he had no other income chargeable to tax under the Act. Subsequently, the Assessing Officer reopened the assessment under section 147 of the Act on the basis of information received that during the year under consideration the assessee jointly with his wife and son had purchased agricultural land for a consideration of Rs.1,32,07,200/-, wherein, assessee’s investment was to the tune of Rs.70,75,286/-. In response to the notice issued under section 148 of the Act, the assessee filed his return of income declaring income of Rs.1,54,480/- and agricultural income of Rs,12,20,000/-. In course of assessment proceeding, the Assessing Officer called upon the assessee to explain the source of investment of Rs. 70,75,286/- for purchase of agricultural land. In response, the assessee submitted that he had availed loan from various persons, who are having sufficient agricultural income to advance the loan. In support of his claim, the assessee furnished various documentary evidences, including the affidavits of the lenders.

After considering the submission of assessee and the evidences filed, the Assessing Officer accepted part of the loan availed as explained, while, treating an amount of Rs.9,75,000/- as unexplained loan. Accordingly, he added back the said amount to the income of the assessee while determining the total income at Rs. 11,29,480/-. Since, the assessee had availed cash loan exceeding the threshold limit in violation of provisions contained under section 269SS of the Act, the Assessing Officer separately initiated proceeding for imposition of penalty under section 271D of the Act and ultimately passed an order imposing penalty of Rs.24,50,000/- under the said provision. Though, the assessee challenged the order imposing penalty under section 271D before learned first appellate authority, however, he was unsuccessful.

Before us, Dr. Rakesh Gupta, learned counsel appearing for the assessee submitted, while deciding the quantum appeal of the assessee, learned Commissioner (Appeals) has sustained addition to the extent of Rs.2,00,000/- out of total loan of Rs.4,00,000/- received from Sh. Rajbir. Thus, he submitted, once the amount of Rs. 2,00,000/- is treated as assessee’s income, it cannot again be treated as loan taken in cash for imposing penalty under section 271D of the Act. Proceeding further, he submitted, as per second proviso to section 269SS of the Act, if the lender and borrower, both, are having agricultural income and neither of them has any income chargeable to tax under the Act, the provision of section 269SS of the Act would not be applicable. He submitted, neither the assessee nor the lenders other than agricultural income had any income chargeable to tax under the Act. Further, he submitted, in course of assessment proceeding, the Assessing Officer has not initiated proceeding for imposition of penalty under section 271D of the ct. Therefore, the order imposing penalty under section 271D of the Act is invalid. He submitted, the object of introducing section 269SS and 271D of the Act is to curb non-genuine transactions made in cash. He submitted, when the loan transactions have been accepted as genuine, even if, there is technical violation of section 269SS of the Act, no penalty under section 271D can be levied.

We have considered rival submissions in the light of the decisions relied upon and perused the materials on record. It is evident, the assesse is an agriculturist. For purchasing some agricultural land jointly, the assessee has availed cash loan from other agriculturists. It is a fact on record that major part of the loan availed by the assessee has been accepted by the departmental authorities. Of course, there is no denial of the fact that the assesse has availed the loan in cash. The issue arising for consideration is, whether there is violation of section 269SS of the Act while availing cash loan. On a reading of second proviso to section 269SS of the Act, it is very much clear that it excludes cash loan availed by a person, if the person borrowing and person lending, both are having agricultural income and do not have any other income chargeable to tax under the Act.

In the facts of the present appeal, undoubtedly, both the assessee and the lenders are having agricultural income. In fact, the departmental authorities have also accepted this factual position. The second condition of the second proviso to section 269SS which requires to be fulfilled is, both the assesse and lenders should not have any other income chargeable to tax under the Act. Assessee’s contention, in this regard, have been rejected by the Assessing Officer and learned Commissioner (Appeals) on the ground that the assessee had business income. However, the moot question which arises is, whether the assessee had any income chargeable to tax under the Act. The quantum of other income offered by the assessee is an amount of Rs.1,54,000/-.

Thus, in our considered opinion, assessee’s case would be covered under the exceptions provided in the second proviso to section 269SS. Hence, the provision of section 269SS would not be applicable. In view of the aforesaid, we hold that the penalty imposed under section 271D of the Act is unsustainable.

In the result, the appeal is allowed.