DCIT NON CORPORATE CIRCLE 2(1), CHENNAI vs. A.VINOD KUMAR REDDY, CHENNAI

This is an appeal filed by Revenue against appellate order dated 01.02.2019 passed by learned Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-2, Chennai (hereinafter called “the CIT(A)”) in for assessment year(ay) 2011-12 , the appellate proceedings had arisen before learned CIT(A) out of penalty order dated 13.10.2016 passed by learned Assessing Officer(hereinafter called “the AO”) levying penalty of ` 1,60,00,000/- u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income-tax Act,1961 ( hereinafter called “ the Act”) against the assessee.

At the outset learned counsel for the assessee submitted that this is an appeal filed by Revenue against appellate order dated 01.02.2019 passed by learned CIT(A) deleting penalty of ` 1,60,00,000/- levied by the AO u/s 271(1)(c) of the 1961 Act against the assessee. It is submitted that while deciding first appeal filed by assessee, the learned CIT(A) in para number 4 referred to an appellate order dated 17.02.2017 passed by Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai Bench ‘B’, Chennai in for impugned ay; 2011-12 deciding quantum additions made by Revenue in favour of the assessee . Thus, it was submitted that quantum additions itself stood deleted by appellate order passed by this tribunal and hence penalty levied by the AO u/s 271(1)(c) w.r.t. those issues in quantum additions will not survive and learned CIT(A) rightly decided first appeal filed by assessee by deleting penalty levied by the AO against assessee u/s 271(1)(c). It was also brought to our notice that learned CIT(A) also took note of the judgment dated 06.06.2018 passed by Hon’ble Madras High Court in Tax Appeal case in TC(A) No. 149 of 2018 in assessee’s own case for impugned ay: 2011-12 holding that no substantial question of law arose and accordingly Revenue appeal stood dismissed by Hon’ble Madras High Court. Thus, the learned counsel for the assessee would submit that this appeal filed by Revenue before tribunal with respect to penalty levied by the AO against assessee u/s 271(1)(c) of the 1961 Act has to be dismissed in view of aforesaid appellate orders passed by tribunal and thereafter by Hon’ble Madras High Court , both in favour of assessee against quantum additions. Both the appellate orders passed by this tribunal as well by Hon’ble Madars High Court in an appeal filed by Revenue u/s 260A against quantum additions are produced before the Bench and are now placed in file. The learned DR on the other hand submitted that Revenue has not accepted the decision of Hon’ble Madras High Court dismissing Revenue’s appeal filed u/s 260A against quantum additions and an SLP is filed by Revenue with Hon’ble Supreme Court. After hearing both the parties and perusing the material on record, we have observed that additions made by AO in quantum has already been decided in favour of the assessee by tribunal and the appeal filed by Revenue with Hon’ble Madras High Court challenging decision of the tribunal u/s 260A stood dismissed on the grounds that no substantial question of law arose from the decision of the tribunal. It is claimed by learned DR that Revenue has filed an SLP with Hon’ble Supreme Court against decision of Hon’ble Madras High Court against quantum additions.