M/S AKSHAR DEVELOPERS ,NAVI MUMBAI vs. ASST CIT CC 3 , THANE

These cross appeals are filed by the assessee and revenue against the common order of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Pune - 11 [hereinafter in short “Ld.CIT(A)”] dated 16.01.2020 for the A.Ys. 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Since the issues raised in all the appeals are identical, therefore, for the sake of convenience, these appeals are clubbed, heard and disposed off by this consolidated order. We are taking Appeal Nos. ITA 1698/Mum/2020 and ITA.No. 891/Mum/2020 for A.Y. 2010-11 as a lead appeals.

Brief facts of the case are that, assessee is partnership firm engaged in the business of real estate development and constructions. A search and seizure action u/s. 132 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (in short “Act”) was conducted in the case of the assessee along with other entities of Akshar Group on 28.09.2011. The assessment was completed u/s. 153A of the Act after making certain additions. The Assessment Order was subject to appeal before the Ld.CIT(A) and the additions were confirmed by Ld.CIT(A). Subsequently Assessing Officer initiated the penalty

Ld.CIT(A) adjudicated both the appeals filed before him for the same assessment year i.e. A.Y. 2010-11, on the two revised penalty orders levied by the Assessing Officer vide Appeal Nos. 13 and 100.

After considering submissions of the assessee, Ld.CIT(A) deleted the penalty imposed dated 25.09.2018 on technical ground that the order

Aggrieved with the above order both assessee as well as revenue is in appeal raising following grounds in its appeal: -

Revenue has raised following grounds in its appeal: - 1. “Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in directing the A.O to recomputed the quantum of penalty only to the extent of the addition confirmed by the ITAT vide its order dated 28.02.2018 without appreciating the fact that the said order of Hon'ble ITAT is not accepted by the Revenue and the same is challenged before Hon’ble Bombay High Court which is still pending?” 2. “Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld.CIT(A was right in holding that the penalty order u/s.275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)(c) of the Act dated 25.09.2018 does not indicate, if prior approval of JCIT has been obtained by the A.O in passing order u/s.275(1A) and therefore is held to be illegal and void ab initio without appreciating the fact that the A.O has only given effect to ITAT order dated 28.02.2018 and reduced the penalty to Rs.83,63,107/- from Rs.4,404,154/- by passing penalty order u/s.275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)(c) on 25.09.2018 whereas before passing the penalty order u/s.271(1)(c) of the Act dated 27.03.2018, the A.O has 5 892 & 893/MUM/2020 ITA NOs. 1698, 1699 & 1700/MUM/2020 M/s. Akshar Developers already taken prior approval of the JCIT vide approval letter no. THN/JCIT/CR/Penalty approval/2017-18/900 dated 27.03.2018?”. 3. “Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld.CIT(A was right in holding that the penalty order u/s. 275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)(c) of the Act dated 25.09.2018 does not indicate, if prior approval of the JCIT has been obtained by the AO in passing order u/s.275(1A) and therefore is held to be illegal and void ab initio without appreciating the fact that the A.O while passing the penalty order u/s.275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)(c) of the Act dated 25.09.2018 has categorically mentioned that as the appeal in this case is pending before the Hon’ble High Court, hence this penalty order is subject to modification u/s.271(1A) as per the order of the Hon’ble High Court?”. (4) The appellant prays that the order of Ld. CIT(A) on the above grounds be reversed and that of the Assessing Officer be restored. (5) The appellant craves leave to amend or alter any grounds or add a new ground which may be necessary.”

Assessee has raised following grounds in its appeal: - “1. BECAUSE, the CIT(A) has erred in law and on facts in upholding the validity of order dated 27/03/2018 u/s. 271(1)c) although it stood superseded by order dated 25/09/2018 u/s. 275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)c).

Ld. AR briefly explained the facts in this case and she specifically brought to our notice Page No. 11 of the Ld.CIT(A) order to submit that when the Assessing Officer passed a revised penalty order u/s. 275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)(c) of the Act dated 25.09.2018 the earlier order passed by him does not survive i.e. 27.03.2018. She objected to the directions given to Assessing Officer by the Ld.CIT(A) to follow the directions given by him.

On the other hand, Ld. DR submitted that Ld.CIT(A) cancelled the second penalty order on the technical grounds that Assessing Officer has not taken prior approval of JCIT before passing this order. She submitted that this is a procedural mistake which is rectifiable, therefore, she prayed that it may be remitted back to the file of the Assessing Officer so that he

In the rejoinder Ld. AR prayed that this issue may be remitted back to the file of the Assessing Officer so that assessee can put-forth its argument on merits also before the authorities.

Considered the rival submissions and material placed on record, we observe from the record that Assessing Officer has passed a revised penalty order u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act dated 27.03.2018 after modifying the penalty imposed by him subsequent to the ITAT order against this order assessee also filed appeal before the Ld.CIT(A). Subsequently the Assessing Officer further revised the penalty u/s. 275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)(c) of the Act dated 25.09.2018. We observe that Ld.CIT(A) cancelled the penalty levied by the Assessing Officer in the second revised penalty order on the basis of technical issue of not obtaining prior approval from JCIT. However, when the Assessing Officer revises the penalty imposed by him, whatever order passed prior to that becomes infructuous, the concept of merger applies. Whatever the recent order passed alone will survive. Since Ld.CIT(A) has cancelled the second revised penalty order the

After considering the detailed submissions and pondering upon the documents submitted before us, in our considered view Ld.CIT(A) has cancelled the second revised order on procedural aspect of not obtaining prior approval from JCIT. In our considered view, it is rectifiable mistake therefore we remit the second revised penalty order back to the file of the Assessing Officer to obtain proper approval and pass the order. Accordingly, the Ground Nos. 2 and 3 raised by the revenue are allowed for statistical purpose.

With regard to Ground No. 1 raised by the revenue it is stated that Ld.CIT(A) has erred in directing the Assessing Officer to recompute the quantum of penalty only to the extent of the addition confirmed by the ITAT without appreciating the fact that the revenue is not accepted the order of the ITAT and same is challenged before Hon'ble High Court which is still pending.

In our considered view once the quantum appeal is decided by the ITAT the same is applicable on both Ld.CIT(A) as well as Assessing Officer, therefore the order passed by the Ld.CIT(A) is binding on the

In the result, appeal filed by the Revenue is partly allowed for statistical purpose.

Coming to the appeal filed by the assessee, with regard to Ground No. 1, we are in agreement with the assessee that once the revised penalty order passed by the Assessing Officer dated 25.09.2018 u/s. 275(1A) r.w.s. 271(1)(c) of the Act it certainly supersedes the order passed by the Assessing Officer u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act dated 27.03.2018. Accordingly, the Ground No. 1 raised by the assessee is allowed.

With regard to Ground No. 2, objection raised on the direction of the Ld.CIT(A) since we allowed the Ground No. 1 raised by the assessee that the direction of the Ld.CIT(A) does not survive, accordingly, this grounds of appeal also allowed.

Coming to the appeals relating to A.Y. 2011-12 and A.Y. 2012-13, since facts in these cases are mutatis mutandis, therefore the decision taken in A.Y. 2010-11 are applicable to these Assessment Years also. Accordingly, these appeals are partly allowed for statistical purpose.

In the result, appeals filed by the Revenue as well as the assessee are partly allowed for statistical purpose.