Condonation of delay: equitable consideration where bona fide technical failures and professional disruptions impede tax filing.
Condonation of short delays in filing income tax returns must be governed by principles of equity and fairness, with bona fide explanations such as portal technical failures and unforeseeable disruptions at a chartered accountant's premises meriting empathetic, case sensitive assessment rather than mechanical rejection. Where assessees rely on professional intermediaries, corroborative evidence of genuine operational impediments is a relevant consideration in exercising discretionary condonation to facilitate compliance objectives.