SUDISA ENTERPRISES PRIVATE LIMITED,JAMSHEDPUR vs. DCIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE, JAMSHEDPUR
Facts
The assessee challenged the initiation of penalty proceedings under Section 270A of the Income Tax Act. The penalty order was passed on 01/04/2022, which the assessee argued was beyond the permissible time limit of 31/03/2022. The CIT(A) had confirmed the penalty by passing an ex parte order due to non-compliance by the assessee.
Held
The Tribunal observed that the penalty order was passed beyond the time limit. While the assessee did not comply with notices, the circumstances were not necessarily deliberate or mala fide. Therefore, in the interest of natural justice, a final opportunity was granted.
Key Issues
Whether the penalty order passed under Section 270A of the Income Tax Act is time-barred and sustainable in law. Whether the ex parte order passed by CIT(A) due to non-compliance by the assessee is justified.
Sections Cited
270A
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, RANCHI BENCH, RANCHI
Before: SHRI PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY & SHRI RATNESH NANDAN SAHAY
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, RANCHI BENCH, RANCHI BEFORE SHRI PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI RATNESH NANDAN SAHAY, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
ITA No. 148 & 149/Ran/2023 Assessment Years 2017-18 and 2019-20) Sudisa Foundry Private Limited, D.C.I.T., B-16, 1st Industrial Phase, Central Circle, Vs. Adityapur-831013 (Jharkhand) Jamshedpur. PAN No. AAKCS 4756 N Appellant/ Assessee Respondent/ Revenue
ITA No. 153 to 156/Ran/2023 (Assessment Years 2017-18 to 2020-21) Sudisa Enterprises Private Limited, D.C.I.T., C-20, 1st Phase, Industrial Area Central Circle, Vs. Adityapur-831013 (Jharkhand) Jamshedpur. PAN No. AALCS 8419 B Appellant/ Assessee Respondent/ Revenue
Assessee represented by Submission filed Department represented by Shri Khubchand T. Pandya, Sr.DR Date of hearing 14/01/2025 Date of pronouncement 14/02/2025 O R D E R PER: BENCH: 1. This is a group of six (6) appeals filed by the assessee(s) emanates from the separate orders of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Patna - 3, Patna [in short, the ld. CIT(A)] dated 27/04/2023 and 28/04/2023 for the Assessment Years (AY) 2017-18 to 2020-21 respectively as per the grounds of appeal on record. All these appeals of the assessee are interconnected, therefore, with the consent of parties, all these appeals were clubbed and heard together and are being decided by this common order.
ITA No. 148/Ran/2023 Sudisa Foundry P Ltd. Vs DCIT & Ors 5 appeals 2. In all these appeals, the assessee has challenged the validity of initiation of penalty proceedings under Section 270A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short, the Act). 3. At the time of hearing, none has appeared on behalf of assessee but the assessee has filed written submission. In its submission, the assessee stated that the assessment orders in all these cases were passed in September, 2021 and the penalty proceedings under Section 270A of the Act were initiated subsequently. In all these appeals, the last date of passing the penalty order was 31/03/2022 based on the completion of the assessment proceedings in September, 2021. It is also stated in the submission that the Assessing Officer has acknowledged in the order that the last date for passing the penalty order was 31/03/2022. However, the penalty order in question was passed and signed on 01/04/2022 which is beyond the permissible time limit and thus, the penalty order is time barred and not sustainable in the eyes of law. 4. On the other hand, the learned Senior Departmental Representative (ld. Sr.DR) for the revenue has relied on the orders of the lower authorities. 5. We have given careful consideration to the relevant facts, documents on record and the submissions of both the parties. It is observed that the Assessing Officer has initiated penalty proceedings under Section 270A of the Act and levied penalty thereof. The ld. CIT(A) has confirmed the action of Assessing Officer by passing an ex parte order for the reason that there was no compliance by the assessee. Therefore, the rights and liabilities of the parties herein have not been adjudicated substantially. It is correct that reasonable opportunities have been provided to the assessee, still, there was no
ITA No. 148/Ran/2023 Sudisa Foundry P Ltd. Vs DCIT & Ors 5 appeals compliance. The facts remain that the income tax laws are within the ambit of welfare legislation which are absolutely separate from penal legislation and therefore, given the facts and circumstances and as per applicable law, benefit of doubt has to be attributed to the assessee/tax payer. There may be circumstances beyond the control of assessee or "vis major" because of which the assessee may not have able to comply with the notices before the NFAC/ld. CIT(A). Under the given facts on record, it cannot be said that such non- compliance was deliberate or malafide on the part of assessee. Therefore, in the interest of principles of natural justice, We are inclined to provide one final opportunity to the assessee and accordingly, the order of NFAC/ld.CIT(A) is set aside and the matter is remanded back to the file of NFAC/ld.CIT(A) for de novo adjudication. The assessee is also directed that, this being the final opportunity, it should file all the relevant documents before NFAC/ld. CIT(A) and represent its case on merit. As per the above terms, the grounds of appeal raised by the assessee stands allowed for statistical purposes only. 6. In the result, all these appeals of the assessee are allowed for statistical purposes only. Order announced in open court on 14th February, 2025.
Sd/- Sd/- (PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY) (RATNESH NANDAN SAHAY) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
Ranchi, Dated: 14/02/2025 *Ranjan Copy to: 1. Assessee 2. Revenue 3. CIT 3
ITA No. 148/Ran/2023 Sudisa Foundry P Ltd. Vs DCIT & Ors 5 appeals 4. DR By order 5. Guard File
Sr. Private Secretary, ITAT, Ranchi
