VIJAY PANDURANG YADHAV,KOLHAPUR vs. JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, RANG -2,, KOLHAPUR

This assessee’s appeal for assessment year 2015-16 arises against the National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi’s order dated 01-08- 2021, passed in case No. ITBA/NFAC/250/2021-22/1034563601(1), in proceedings u/s. 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961; in short “the Act”.

Coming to the assessee’s sole substantive grievance that the learned lower authorities have erred in law and on facts in imposing section 271D penalty of Rs.16,00,000/-, we note that not only the Assessing Officer penalty order dated 14-12-2019 is ex-parte but also he had failed to appear in the lower faceless appellate proceedings.

Learned counsel sought to buttress the point the assessee’s non- appearance in both the lower proceedings as attributable to Covid-19 pandemic outbreak at its initial stage followed by various lockdown in the years 2000 and 2021. He has further placed on record the assessee’s detailed paper book running into 43 pages that there are no cash loans in violation of section 269SS in the impugned assessment years. Faced with this situation, we deem it proper to restore the assessee’s sole substantive grievance back to the Assessing Officer for this afresh adjudication as per law. The Revenue’s vehemently arguments supporting the impugned penalty are rejected to this limited extent. Ordered accordingly.

This assessee’s appeal is allowed for statistical purpose in above terms.