https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=6846 Where no limitation period is prescribed for completing penalty proceedings, mere lapse of time does not by itself invalidate a penalty for default in filing a return. Inordinate and unexplained delay, however, is a material factor that the final fact-finding authority must consider when deciding whether the penalty order should be sustained. The circumstances causing the delay, and whether the assessee was responsible for it, are relevant to that assessment. As a matter of strict law, the penalty could be imposed even years after the assessment proceedings ended, but the delay remained relevant to the propriety of upholding the order. en-us Mon, 07 Nov 1966 00:00:00 +0530 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:12:00 +0530 TaxTMI RSS Generator https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=6846 Where no limitation period is prescribed for completing penalty proceedings, mere lapse of time does not by itself invalidate a penalty for default in filing a return. Inordinate and unexplained delay, however, is a material factor that the final fact-finding authority must consider when deciding whether the penalty order should be sustained. The circumstances causing the delay, and whether the assessee was responsible for it, are relevant to that assessment. As a matter of strict law, the penalty could be imposed even years after the assessment proceedings ended, but the delay remained relevant to the propriety of upholding the order. Case-Laws Income Tax Mon, 07 Nov 1966 00:00:00 +0530 https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=6846