DEBASHIS DUTTA,KOLKATA vs. ITO, WARD - 22(2), KOLKATA , KOLKATA

This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order of Ld. CIT(A) – 19, Kolkata dated 28.03.2018 whereby he confirmed the penalty of Rs. 3,45,355/- imposed by the AO u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income tax Act, 1961.

As noted at the outset, there is a delay of 15 days on the part of the assessee in filing this appeal before the Tribunal. In this regard, the assessee has filed an application seeking condonation of the said delay and keeping in view the reasons given therein, we are satisfied that there was a sufficient cause for the delay of 15 days on the part of the assessee in filing this appeal before the Tribunal. Even the learned DR has not raised any objection in this regard. We accordingly condone the said delay and proceed to dispose of the appeal of the assessee on merit.

The assessee in the present case is an individual who filed his return of income for the year under consideration on 21.07.2011 declaring a total income of Rs. 3,13,297/-. In the assessment completed u/s 143(3) vide an order dated 28.02.2014, the total income of the assessee was determined by the AO at Rs. 16,55,423/- after making an addition of Rs. 13,37,488/- on account of undisclosed interest income. Penalty proceedings u/s 271(1)(c) were also initiated by the AO in respect of the said addition and since the explanation offered by the assessee in response to the show cause notice issued during the course of the said proceedings was not found acceptable by him, the AO imposed a penalty of Rs. 3,45,355/- u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act. On appeal, the Ld. CIT(A) confirmed the penalty imposed by the AO u/s 271(1)(c). Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. CIT(A), the assessee has preferred this appeal before the Tribunal.

We have heard the arguments of both the sides and also perused the relevant material available on record. The learned counsel for the assessee has raised a preliminary issue challenging the penalty imposed u/s 271(1)(c) on the ground that the notice of penalty issued by the AO itself being defective, the penalty imposed in pursuance of the same is not sustainable. He has invited our attention of the said notice placed at page no. 1 of the Paper Book to point out that the irrelevant portion having been not struck off by the A.O. in the said notice, the exact charge against the assessee as to whether he concealed the particulars of his income or furnished inaccurate particulars of such income was not clear. In support of this contention, the learned counsel for the assessee has relied on the 3 Debashis Dutta Assessment Year: 2011-12 decision of the coordinate bench of this Tribunal in the case of Jeetmal Choraria vs ACIT rendered vide its order dated 01.12.2017 passed in wherein a similar issue is decided by the Tribunal after taking into consideration, the relevant decision of the different High Courts vide paragraph no. 14 and 15 of its order which read as under: “From the aforesaid discussion it can be seen that the line of reasoning of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court and the Hon’ble Patna High Court is that issuance of notice is an administrative device for informing the assessee about the proposal to levy penalty in order to enable him to explain as to why it should not be done. Mere mistake in the language used or mere non-striking of the inaccurate portion cannot by itself invalidate the notice. The Tribunal Benches at Mumbai and Patna being subordinate to the Hon’ble Bombay High Court and Patna High Court are bound to follow the aforesaid view. The Tribunal Benches at Bangalore have to follow the decision of the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court. As far as benches of Tribunal in other jurisdictions are concerned, there are two views on the issue, one in favour of the assessee rendered by the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court in the case of Manjunatha Cotton & Ginning (supra) and other of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Smt. Kaushalya. It is settled legal position that where two views are available on an issue, the view favourable to the assessee has to be followed. We, therefore, prefer to follow the view expressed by the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court in the case of Manjunatha Cotton & Ginning (supra).

In our opinion, the decision rendered by the Coordinate Bench of this Tribunal in the case of Jeetmal Choraria vs ACIT (supra) is squarely applicable in the present case and even the learned DR has not disputed this position. We, therefore, respectfully follow the said decision of the Coordinate Bench of this Tribunal and cancel the penalty imposed by the A.O. under section 271(1)(c) and confirmed by the Ld. CIT(A).

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.