Tribunal vacates penalty under IT Act, citing allowance of deduction in quantum appeal.

The tribunal allowed the appeal of the assessee, vacating the penalty of Rs. 4,17,900/- imposed under section 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act. This decision was based on the allowance of the quantum appeal regarding the deduction under section 54F, which favored the assessee. The tribunal concluded that since the deduction was granted in the quantum appeal, the penalty could not be sustained.

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Issues Involved:
1. Validity of order of imposition of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act.
2. Sustaining the penalty of Rs. 4,17,900/- u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act.
3. Non-consideration of the application for adjournment by the ld. CIT(A).

Summary:

1. Validity of Order of Imposition of Penalty u/s 271(1)(c):
The assessee contested the imposition of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act. The penalty was levied due to the denial of the deduction claimed u/s 54F, leading to the determination of long-term capital gain at Rs. 20,28,370/-. The ld. CIT(A) upheld the penalty, stating, "the AO has rightly levied the penalty of Rs. 4,17,900/- u/s 271(1)(c) in respect of the addition of Rs. 20,28,370/- made by the AO under the head 'Long Term Capital Gain' because the appellant had filed inaccurate particulars of income."

2. Sustaining the Penalty of Rs. 4,17,900/- u/s 271(1)(c):
The assessee argued that the penalty was unjust as the quantum appeal regarding the deduction u/s 54F was allowed by the ITAT. The tribunal noted, "Considering the findings of the Tribunal in ITA No. 397/JP/2018 in assessee own case, we are of the considered view that when the quantum appeal is allowed and the deduction has been granted by this Tribunal consequently the penalty cannot hold its leg and therefore, we vacate the consequential levy of penalty at Rs. 4,17,900/-."

3. Non-Consideration of the Application for Adjournment:
The assessee claimed that the ld. CIT(A) erred in not considering the application for adjournment. However, the tribunal's decision focused on the merits of the penalty and the outcome of the quantum appeal, which rendered this issue secondary.

Conclusion:
The tribunal allowed the appeal of the assessee, vacating the penalty of Rs. 4,17,900/- u/s 271(1)(c) since the quantum appeal was decided in favor of the assessee, granting the deduction u/s 54F. The order was pronounced in the open Court on 28/06/2023.

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