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of <h1>Court orders reassessment of interest waiver under Income-tax Act, upholds 50% reduction, stresses thorough evaluation. Petitions allowed.</h1> The court directed the authorities to reassess the petitioners' entitlement to a complete waiver of interest under section 215 of the Income-tax Act. ... Advance Tax, Jurisdiction Of High Court, Waiver Of Interest, Writ Jurisdiction Issues:1. Assessment of income from firms for specific years.2. Levying of interest under section 215 of the Income-tax Act.3. Petition for waiver of interest under section 215(4) of the Act.4. Discretion exercised by authorities under rule 40(5) of the Income-tax Rules.5. Challenge to orders passed by Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner.6. Interpretation of section 215 and rule 40 by the court.Analysis:The judgment addressed two original petitions concerning partners of multiple firms whose income was primarily derived from these firms. The assessment orders for the years 1983-84, 1984-85, and 1985-86 revealed discrepancies in the income reported by the firms, leading to adjustments in the partners' income. Additionally, interest under section 215 of the Income-tax Act was imposed due to insufficient advance tax payments by the petitioners. The Deputy Commissioner considered petitions for waiver of interest, reducing it by 50% in both cases (O. P. No. 11187 and O. P. No. 11190). Subsequently, revisions were filed under section 264 of the Act challenging these orders (exhibits P-7 and P-11).The petitioners argued that the authorities did not properly exercise their discretion under section 215(4) and rule 40(5) when reducing the interest. They contended that the reasons for not fully waiving the interest were not adequately provided, despite partial acceptance of their contentions by the Deputy Commissioner. Legal precedents were cited to support their position. In contrast, the Revenue's counsel defended the authorities' discretion, emphasizing that interest served as compensation for delayed tax realization and disputing the entitlement of the 50% reduction granted.The court examined whether the authorities had correctly applied their power under section 215(4) and rule 40(5). Citing relevant case law, it highlighted that authorities must exercise their discretion in cases meeting the prescribed conditions. The court emphasized that if the discretion was not properly exercised, judicial intervention was warranted. Notably, the court stressed that the authorities should objectively assess whether the petitioners genuinely paid advance tax based on the information provided by the firms, especially considering that a significant portion of their income stemmed from these firms.Consequently, the court directed the authorities to reassess whether the petitioners were entitled to a complete waiver of the interest levied under section 215. While upholding the 50% reduction initially granted, the court emphasized the need for a more thorough and objective evaluation of the circumstances. Ultimately, the original petitions were allowed, granting relief to the petitioners and necessitating a fresh consideration of the interest waiver.This detailed analysis of the judgment showcases the court's scrutiny of the authorities' discretion, the petitioners' contentions, and the legal framework governing interest waiver under the Income-tax Act and Rules.
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