THE ITO, WARD-3(3)(7), AHMEDABAD vs. SHRI KANTIBHAI REVABHAI PRAJAPATI, AHMEDABAD

The Revenue is aggrieved by the action of the ld.CIT(A) in deleting the penalty under section 271AAA of the Act of Rs.18,47,839/-

The ld.counsel for the assessee at the outset submitted that quantum of the disputed penalty is less than Rs.50 lakhs. He submitted that by virtue of recent CBDT Circular No.17 of 2019 dated 8.8.2019, Department has been instructed not to file appeal before the Tribunal where tax effect is below Rs.50 lakhs. This instruction is applicable to the pending cases also. Therefore, the present appeal of the Revenue is liable to be dismissed at the threshold. Per contra, the ld.DR did not 2 dispute applicability of the recent CBDT circular and left to the Tribunal to pass appropriate order in the matter.

After hearing both the sides and after perusal of the above CBDT Instruction, we are of the view that the present appeal of the Revenue falls within the purview of the CBDT Instruction cited (supra). We have noted that the quantum of penalty disputed by the Revenue is less than Rs.50 lakhs, and therefore, keeping in view the above CBDT circular and provisions of section 268A of the Income Tax Act, we are of the view that the present appeal of the Revenue deserves to be dismissed. It is dismissed.

However, it is observed that in case on re-verification at the end of the AO it can be demonstrated that the tax effect is more, or Revenue’s case falls within the ambit of exceptions provided in the Circular, then the Department will be at liberty to approach the Tribunal for recall of this order. Such application should be filed within the time period prescribed in the Act. In view of the above, the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed due to low tax effect.

In the result, appeal of the Revenue is dismissed due to low tax effect.