Facts
The assessee filed an appeal against the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (CIT(A)) order sustaining a penalty levied under Section 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, which was decided ex parte. The related quantum appeal had also been decided ex parte by the CIT(A) and was subsequently restored by the Tribunal for fresh adjudication.
Held
The Tribunal restored the present penalty appeal to the file of the CIT(A) for fresh adjudication along with the quantum appeal. This decision ensures that the assessee is provided with a reasonable opportunity of hearing, particularly since the underlying quantum appeal had already been restored.
Key Issues
Whether an ex parte order sustaining penalty under Section 271(1)(c) should be restored to the CIT(A) for fresh adjudication when the underlying quantum appeal has already been restored to the CIT(A) by the Tribunal.
Sections Cited
271(1)(c)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH “SMC” NEW DELHI
Before: SHRI CHALLA NAGENDRA PRASAD
सुनवाईक�तारीख/ Date of hearing: 05.12.2024 06.12.2024 उ�ोषणाक�तारीख/Pronouncement on आदेश /O R D E R This appeal is filed by the assessee against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-NFAC, Delhi for the AY 2012-13 in sustaining the penalty levied u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act.
Ld. Counsel for the assessee, at the outset, submits that this appeal was decided ex parte by the Ld.CIT(A) dismissing the appeal of the assessee. Ld. Counsel also submitted that the quantum appeal was also decided ex parte by the Ld.CIT(A) and on further appeal to the Tribunal the Tribunal by order dated 20.06.2024 in restored the quantum appeal to the file of 1 the Ld.CIT(A) for fresh adjudication in accordance with law after giving reasonable opportunity of hearing to the assessee. Ld. Counsel for the assessee, therefore, requested that since the quantum appeal is restored to the file of the Ld.CIT(A) the ex parte order passed by the Ld.CIT(A) dismissing the appeal of the assessee and confirming the penalty levied u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act may also be restored to the file of the Ld.CIT(A) for fresh adjudication along with the quantum appeal after providing adequate opportunity of hearing.
Ld. DR has no serious objection in restoring the matter to the file of the Ld.CIT(A) for deciding the appeal after providing an opportunity to the assessee.
On hearing both the sides and perusing the record before me, it is observed that the quantum appeal has been restored to the file of the Ld.CIT(A) by the Tribunal in dated 20.06.2024 to decide afresh after providing adequate opportunity to the assessee. The appeal now before me is against the penalty levied u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act and the appeal is decided ex parte by the Ld.CIT(A). Since the quantum had already been restored to the file of the Ld.CIT(A), I feel it appropriate to restore this appeal to the file of the Ld.CIT(A) to decide along with the quantum 2 appeal. Thus, this appeal is restored to the file of the Ld.CIT(A) for fresh adjudication in accordance with law after providing adequate opportunity to the assessee.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purpose.