DY.CIT CIRCLE -1, THANE vs. SHRI GANGASAGAR SITARAM MALLAH, THANE

Shri Gangasagar Sitaram Mallah ITA No.1544/Mum./2022 2. When this appeal was called for hearing, neither anyone appeared on behalf of the assessee nor was any application seeking adjournment filed. Therefore, we proceed to dispose off this appeal ex–parte, qua the assessee after hearing the learned Departmental Representative (“learned DR”) and on the basis of material available on record.

The only grievance of the Revenue in the present appeal is against deletion of penalty levied under section 271(1)(c) of the Act by the learned CIT(A).

The brief facts of the case pertaining to the issue, as emanating from the record, are: The assessee is an individual and is engaged in business of trading of machinery and equipments. The assessee e–filed its return of income for the year under consideration on 28/09/2010, declaring total income at Rs. 14,18,990. Pursuant to the information received from the Sales Tax Department, Maharashtra, re–assessment proceedings were initiated, for the year under consideration, in assessee’s case on the basis that the assessee has obtained bogus purchase bills amounting to Rs. 4,98,389, from the party who is a hawala dealer and merely provides entries to its beneficiaries. Accordingly, vide order dated 26/02/2014, passed under section 143(3) r/w section 147 of the Act, the Assessing Officer made addition of entire amount of Rs. 4,98,389 to the total amount of the assessee.

Meanwhile, the penalty order dated 13/03/2018, was passed by the Assessing Officer under section 271(1)(c) of the Act wherein penalty of Rs. 1,54,002, was levied on the basis that the assessee has furnished inaccurate particulars of income within the meaning of section 271(1)(c) of the Act.

In further appeal against the penalty order, the learned CIT(A), vide impugned order dated 22/03/2022, allowed the appeal filed by the assessee and deleted the penalty levied under section 271(1)(c) of the Act. Being aggrieved, the Revenue is in appeal before us.

During the course of hearing, at the outset, it was noticed that the amount of penalty levied by the Assessing Officer under section 271(1)(c) of the Act is only Rs. 1,54,002, and thus, the tax effect in Revenue’s appeal is below the revised monetary limit of Rs.50 lakh applicable to appeals before the Tribunal, as per CBDT Circular no.17 of 2019, dated 08/08/2019. Further, none of the exceptions provided in CBDT Circular no.3 of 2018, dated 11/07/2018 r/w circular F. no.279/Misc./142/2007 IT)-(Pt) dated 20/08/2018, would apply to Revenue's appeal. Thus, Revenue's appeal being covered under the aforesaid Circulars is not maintainable.

The learned DR submitted that the assessment in assessee’s case was re–opened on the basis of information received from the Sales Tax Department and, therefore, the present case falls within the exception provided in Para–10(e) of Circular no.279/Misc. 142/2007–ITJ (Pt), dated 20/08/2018, and accordingly the present appeal is maintainable.

Having considered the submissions and having perused the material available on record, we find that similar issue arose for consideration before the Co–ordinate Bench of the Tribunal in appeal being ITA no.6053/Mum./2019, order dated 19/04/2021, in DCIT v/s Aluvind Architectural Pvt. Ltd., wherein the Tribunal, while deciding the issue in favour of the tax payer, observed as under:–

Since similar submissions have been in the present case, wherein levy of penalty of Rs. 1,54,002, is under challenge, therefore, respectfully following the aforesaid decision of the Co–ordinate Bench of the Tribunal, we are of the view that the tax effect on the amount disputed by the Revenue in the present appeal is below the revised monetary limit of Rs.50 lakh, as per CBDT Circular no. 17/2019, dated 08/08/2019, r/w Page | 4

In the result, appeal filed by the Revenue is dismissed. Order pronounced in the open Court on 20/10/2022