CLOVER DEVELOPERS PVT LTD,MUMBAI vs. DY CIT 6(1)(1), MUMBAI
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal noted that the co-ordinate bench had previously decided the quantum appeal in favor of the assessee, holding that unabsorbed depreciation cannot be set off against profits of initial years. Since the basis for the disallowance by the AO was set aside, the Tribunal held that the penalty could not be sustained.
What were the facts?
The assessee filed an appeal against the penalty levied under Section 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The penalty was levied after the Assessing Officer (AO) disallowed a claim of deduction under Section 80-IA. The assessee had acquired wind mills and claimed depreciation. The AO disallowed a part of the claim, which led to the penalty.
What were the issues?
Whether penalty under Section 271(1)(c) can be sustained when the primary disallowance forming the basis of the penalty has been set aside by a coordinate bench of the Tribunal.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cases cited in this judgment(1)Show listHide list
Detected automatically from the text. Citations are also linked where they appear in the judgment. The count shows how many other judgments on BharatTax rely on the same authority.
- Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills (P) Ltd. v. ACIT213 citing340 ITR 477 · 2012 · HC
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, MUMBAI “C” BENCH : MUMBAI
Before: SHRI VIKRAM SINGH YADAV & SHRI SANDEEP SINGH KARHAIL
Assessment Year : 2012-13 Clover Developers Pvt. Ltd., DCIT-6(1)(1), Flat No. 12, Mumbai. 1st Floor, Plot No. 541/C, vs. Ashok Building, Edenwalla Road, Matunga, Mumbai-400019. PAN : AAACG1925B (Appellant) (Respondent) For Assessee : Shri K. Gopal a/w. Shri Akhilesh Deshmukh For Revenue : Shri Virabhadra Mahajan, Sr.DR Date of Hearing : 11-02-2026 Date of Pronouncement : 16-02-2026 O R D E R PER VIKRAM SINGH YADAV, A.M :
This is an appeal filed by the assessee against the order of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi [„Ld.CIT(A)‟], dated 08-09-2025, pertaining to Assessment Year (AY) 2012-13, wherein the Ld.CIT(A) has sustained the levy of penalty u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 („the Act‟).
During the course of hearing, the Ld.AR submitted that assessment in this case was completed u/s. 143(3) of the Act, vide order dt. 27-03-2015, wherein the AO has disallowed the claim of deduction u/s. 80-IA of the Act amounting to Rs. 1,05,82,467/-. The assessee thereafter, carried the matter in appeal before the Tribunal and the Tribunal has since decided the matter in favour of the assessee, vide its order dt. 20-08-2019 in and our reference was drawn to the findings of the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal, which reads as under:
“9. After hearing both the parties and perusing material on record, we observe that the claim made by assessee is as per law. The assessee had acquired wind mills in the previous year relevant to the AY.2007-08. However, the assessee did not make any claim u/s.801A of the Act till AY.2011-12. The year under consideration i.e., AY.2012-13, is the first year of claim u/s.801A of the Act and thus, there is no dispute so far as the initial year is concerned. The AO allowed the depreciation only to the tune of Rs.13,87,637/- instead of Rs. 1,19,71,104/ as claimed by assessee. The AO calculated the amount of Rs. 13,87,637/- by reducing the claim u/s 80IA of Rs. 1,05,83,467/- from total unabsorbed depreciation. The above un-absorbed depreciation is the aggregate of the depreciation in eligible units as well as other business of construction carried on by the assessee. According to the AO, the actual depreciation of the earlier years in respect of wind mill is not to be allowed against the non-eligible business of the assessee whereas the contention of the assessee is that unabsorbed brought forward depreciation can not be set off against the initial year. In this connection, the assessee relied on the decision of Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case of Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills P. Ltd., Vs. ACIT [340 ITR 477]. After taking into account the submissions of the assessee and decision of the Madras High court in the case of Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills P. Ltd., Vs. ACIT (supra) we are set aside the order of CIT(A) and direct the AO to accept the claim of assessee as filed as the unabsorbed depreciation can not be set off against the profits of the initial years.. Hence, the grounds raised by assessee are allowed.”
3. It was accordingly submitted that the very basis of the disallowance by the AO has since been set-aside by the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal and the matter has been decided in favour of the assessee and in view of the same, there is no basis for levy of penalty by the AO u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act. It was accordingly submitted that the penalty so levied and confirmed by the Ld.CIT(A) may be directed to be deleted.
Per contra, the Ld. DR is heard, who has relied on the order passed by the lower authorities.
We have heard the rival contentions and perused the material available on record. Admittedly in the quantum proceedings, the matter has since been decided by the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal in favour of the assessee and which also happened to be the subject matter of impugned penalty proceedings and, therefore, we find force in the contentions advanced by the Ld.AR where the very basis of levy of penalty has been set-aside, the penalty so levied cannot be sustained. In light of the same, the penalty so levied is hereby directed to be deleted.
In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.
Order pronounced in the open court on 16-02-2026.
Similar judgments
Other orders that rely on the same authority or decide the same section.
- Indiana Gratings P.Ltd, Mumbai vs DCIT RG 8(2), MumbaiMumbai4 Nov 2015Allowed
Also relies on Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills (P) Ltd. v. ACIT
The Tribunal held that the deduction under Section 80IA should be worked out after considering losses from earlier years and that the assessee has the right to choose the initial assessment year for claiming the benefit....
- M/S. Gyanshankar Investment & Trading Co… vs The DCIT Circle-7(1)(1), MumbaiMumbai29 Oct 2021Allowed
Also relies on Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills (P) Ltd. v. ACIT
The Tribunal held that the reassessment proceedings and the consequent order were invalid because the notice under Section 148 was issued to a non-existent company. Furthermore, reopening on the same grounds as the origi...
- ACIT, Coimbatore vs Rangamma Steels and Malleables, CoimbatoreChennai19 Jan 2015Allowed
Also relies on Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills (P) Ltd. v. ACIT
The Tribunal upheld the CIT(Appeals)'s order, stating that the decision of the Hon'ble Madras High Court was binding. Therefore, the deduction under Section 80-IA was allowed to the assessee.
- Parkkot Maritime Agencies Private Limited… vs Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle-2…Panaji4 Oct 2021Remanded
Also relies on Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills (P) Ltd. v. ACIT
The Tribunal noted that the Supreme Court had rejected the revenue's Special Leave Petition. Therefore, the matter was remanded to the AO to grant the benefit of Section 80-IA in light of the High Court's judgment, consi...
- M/S. Zaveri & Co. Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad vs The Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax…Ahmedabad4 Mar 2019Dismissed
Also relies on Velayudhaswamy Spinning Mills (P) Ltd. v. ACIT
The Tribunal held that interest income earned on fixed deposits used as security for Letters of Credit in the course of business is eligible for deduction under section 10AA. It also confirmed the disallowance of employe...
More judgments on Section 271(1)(c)
- Ajaybhai Dineshbhai Bagdai, Near Central… vs The Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(2)(1), New…ITA 74/RJT/2026[2013-14]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2013-14
- Shalin Jayantbhai Desai, Vadodara vs ACIT, Circle-4(2), Vadodara Present…ITA 2569/AHD/2026[2010-11]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2010-11
- Neo Structo Construction P. Ltd., Ahmedabad vs The Pr. CIT- 3, AhmedabadITA 1216/AHD/2026[2015-2016]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2015-2016
- Hetal Vinodchandra Sheth, Ahmedabad vs The ITO, Ward-5(3)(1), AhmedabadITA 2370/AHD/2025[2014-15]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2014-15
- Hetal Vinodchandra Sheth, Ahmedabad vs The ITO, Ward-5(3)(1), AhmedabadITA 2369/AHD/2025[2014-15]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2014-15
Latest GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- Ankil Jagdishchandra Kholwadwala vs. Union Of INDIA And AnrBombay · 22 Oct 2026
- Imtiyaz Shaikh Z Chorlekar vs. Salman ShaikhBombay · 21 Oct 2026
- S. Nithyananda vs. State Of KarnatakaKarnataka · 17 Oct 2026
- Venkadeswara Grill Works vs. The Joint Commissioner (St)Madras · 16 Oct 2026
- Mufti Clothing And Co vs. The Assistant Commissioner (St)Madras · 16 Oct 2026