MAMTA UPPADHYAY,SEHORE vs. ITO SEHORE, SEHORE
Facts
The assessee filed an appeal against an order imposing a penalty of Rs. 10,000 under section 271(1)(b) for non-compliance with notices. The assessee claimed unawareness of the proceedings due to notices not being received. The lower appellate authority upheld the penalty, stating valid service of notices.
Held
The Tribunal found the impugned order to be improper, considering that a first appeal regarding the Quantum Assessment Order is pending. The Tribunal set aside the impugned order and remanded the case back to the Assessing Officer for a fresh decision.
Key Issues
Whether the penalty imposed under section 271(1)(b) for non-compliance with notices was justified when the assessee claimed non-receipt of such notices.
Sections Cited
271(1)(b), 142(1), 253, 250, 246A
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, INDORE BENCH, INDORE
Per Paresh M Joshi, J.M.:
This is an Appeal filed by the Assessee under section 253 of
the income tax Act 1961,[ herein after referred to as the Act
for the sake of brevity] before this tribunal as and by way of
a second appeal. The Assessee is aggrieved by the order
bearing No:-ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2024-25/1075125343(1)
dated 27.03.2025 passed by the Ld. CIT (A) u/s 250 of the
Act, which is herein after referred to as the “Impugned
order”. The Relevant Assessment year is 2012-13 and the
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corresponding previous year period is from 01.04.2011 to
31.03.2012.
Factual Matrix
2.1 That as and by way of an penalty order made u/s 271(1)
(b) of the Act, a penalty of Rs. 10,000/- was imposed on the
assessee as the assessee had not complied with the notice(s)
u/s 142(1) dated 01.05.2019 and 23.10.2019 resulting in
statutory default attracting penal provision u/s 271(1) (b) of
the act. That the aforesaid “penalty order” bears no: -
ITBA/PNL/F/271(1) (b)/2021-22/1038427080(1) and that
the same is dated 05.01.2022 which is hereinafter referred to
as the “impugned penalty order”.
2.2 That the assessee being aggrieved by the aforesaid
“impugned penalty order” prefers the first appeal u/s 246A
of the act before the Ld. CIT (A) who by the “impugned
order” has dismissed the first appeal of the assessee on the
grounds and reasons stated therein. The core ground and
reasons for the dismissal of the first appeal was as under:-
“5.0 I have considered the penalty order and the appeal documents filed by the assessee. The assessee during the
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appellate proceedings submitted that the assessee was unaware the initiation of the assessment as well as penalty proceedings. Hence, she could not comply to the statutory notices. I have considered the contention of the assessee, however the same is not tenable. The AO did valid service of notices to the assessee. The assessee was supposed to file reply to the 142(1) notices issued by the AO, however the assessee failed to file reply to the notices. The penalty levied by the AO to the tune of Rs. 10,000/- u/s 271(1)(b) is upheld and grounds of appeal are dismissed. In result, the appeal is dismissed.”
2.3 The assessee being aggrieved by the “impugned order” has
preferred the instant second appeal before this tribunal and has
raised the following grounds of appeal in the form no. 36 against
the “impugned order” which are as under:-
“Ground 1. That in the fact and circumstances of the case the appellant never intended to avoid the assessment proceedings Initiated by the department the sole reason of her not attending the proceedings was non receipt of notices issued by the department. The appellant did not respond to the notice issued under section 142 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 as she was unaware about the of initiation of assessment proceedings since registered mail id did not belong to appellant and thus initiation of penalty proceedings under section 271(1)(b) is bad in law and should be annulled. Ground 2. That in the facts and circumstances of the case the penalty order and appellate order is passed without giving any opportunity to the appellant which is bad in law and against the principles of natural justice. 3.Ground The Appellant craves leave to add, amend, alter vary and OR DLEETE all OR any of above grounds.”
Record of Hearing
3.1 The hearing in the matter took place before this Tribunal
on 16.02.2026 when the Ld. AR for & on behalf of the
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Assessee appeared before us & interalia contended that the
“Impugned Order” is bad in law, illegal & not Proper. It is in
the violation of the principles of natural justice. It therefore
deserves to be set aside. It was next contended that the
registry has pointed out the delay of 48 days in filing the
instant second appeal. It was submitted that the “impugned
order” is dated 27.03.2025 and the instant appeal ought to
Have been filed on or before 27.05.2025 [or before end of 60
days from end of the month in which the impugned order
was received]. However the instant appeal was filed on
18.07.2025. A condonation of delay application along with an
affidavit in support is placed on record of this tribunal. It is
pleaded in the application for the condonation of delay that
instant appeal could not be filed in time as the email id on
record does not belong to the assessee nor her counsel. The
assessee consequently was unaware of the on-going appellate
proceedings and could not file instant appeal in time an
affidavit dated 18.07.2025 was placed on record in support
of the condonation of delay application. The Ld. DR
appearing for and on behalf of the revenue contended that
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dept. of Income Tax has no objection if the delay is condoned
by this tribunal however he leaves the issue to be decided by
this tribunal as per it’s wisdom. We after hearing both the
parties, condone the delay as sufficient cause is shown.
3.2 The Ld. AR then submitted that Quantum Assessment
first appeal is pending before the Ld. CIT (A). Submissions
have been made. In so far penalty issue is concerned it was
submitted that tax practitioner who was engaged by the
assessee was unprofessional as he frequently used to change
email ids and was found to be untrustworthy. In final
analysis of things it was submitted by the Ld. AR that email
notices did not come to the assessee and that was the reason
for non-compliances of two notices dated 01.05.2019 and
23.10.2019 issued u/s 142(1). It was prayed that the matter
be remanded back to the file of Ld. AO. Per contra the Ld. DR
submitted that he leaves the issue of penalty to the wisdom
of the tribunal. Hearing was closed.
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Observations Findings & conclusions
4.1 We have to decide the legality, validity and proprietary of the
“impugned order” basis records of the case & the rival
submission canvassed before us.
4.2 We have carefully perused the records of the case and have
heard the submissions.
4.3 We basis records of the case & after hearing & upon
examining the rival contentions of the Ld. AR & the Ld. DR
canvassed before us, are of the considered opinion that the
“impugned order” is not proper as against the Quantum
Assessment Order dated 30.11.2019 which is placed on
record first appeal is pending before Ld. CIT (A) and
submissions in that appeal has been made. Under these
facts and circumstances we deem it fit to set aside the
impugned order and remand the case back to the file of Ld.
AO on De novo basis. The assessee is directed to furnish
before Ld. AO her correct email id including of her counsel
where dept. could serve notice(s) to assessee in an effective
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manner. Assessee is directed to cooperate with dept. of
Income Tax.
4.4 In view of above, we set aside the “impugned order” and
remand the case back to the file of Ld. AO on De novo basis,
who shall pass a fresh order after taking into consideration
the outcome of the first appeal in Quantum assessment
proceedings.
5 Order
5.1 In the result the “Impugned order” is set aside as and by
way of remand back to the file of the Ld. AO.
5.2 The appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purpose.
Pronounced in open court on 27.02.2026.
Sd/- sd/-
(BHAGIRATH MAL BIYANI) (PARESH M JOSHI) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER
Indore Dated : 27/02/2026 Patel/Sr. PS Copies to: (1) The appellant
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(2) The respondent (3) CIT (4) CIT(A) (5) Departmental Representative (6) Guard File By order UE COPY Senior Private Secretary Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Indore Bench, Indore
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