1969 (3) TMI 20 - HC - Income Tax

Concealment of income for the assessment year 1961-62 - leviability of penalty - Act of 1961 - Act of 1922 - law applicable

Issues Involved
1. Applicability of Section 271(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for penalties on assessments completed after April 1, 1962.
2. Interpretation of Section 297(2)(g) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 in relation to penalties for assessments for the year ending March 31, 1962, or earlier.
3. Conflict between Section 297(2)(a) and Section 297(2)(g) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
4. Legal precedents and conflicting judgments on the applicability of new penalty provisions to old assessments.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis

1. Applicability of Section 271(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961
The primary issue was whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that no penalty under Section 271(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 could be levied for assessments completed on or after April 1, 1962, for the assessment year 1961-62 or earlier. The Tribunal had held that the penalty proceedings should be governed by the provisions of the old Act (Income-tax Act, 1922) since the return was filed and the assessment proceedings were initiated under the old Act. The High Court, however, concluded that the penalty proceedings could be initiated under Section 271(1) of the new Act if the assessment was completed after April 1, 1962.

2. Interpretation of Section 297(2)(g)
Section 297(2)(g) was pivotal in determining whether penalties could be imposed under the new Act for assessments completed after April 1, 1962. The High Court noted that Section 297(2)(g) allows for penalty proceedings to be initiated under the new Act for assessments completed after the new Act came into force. The Court rejected the argument that Section 297(2)(a) should exclusively govern such proceedings, emphasizing that Section 297(2)(g) explicitly provides for this scenario.

3. Conflict between Section 297(2)(a) and Section 297(2)(g)
The Court addressed the apparent conflict between Section 297(2)(a) and Section 297(2)(g). Section 297(2)(a) allows for assessment proceedings to continue under the old Act if they were initiated before the new Act came into force. However, Section 297(2)(g) specifically deals with penalty proceedings for assessments completed after April 1, 1962. The Court clarified that both provisions could coexist, with Section 297(2)(g) specifically addressing penalties for assessments completed after the new Act's commencement.

4. Legal Precedents and Conflicting Judgments
The judgment reviewed various conflicting decisions from different High Courts. The Tribunal had relied on decisions from the Mysore High Court (S. G. Magavi, Haveri v. Commissioner of Income-tax) and the Bombay High Court (Shakti Offset Works v. Inspecting Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax), which supported the assessee's contention that penalties should be imposed under the old Act. Conversely, the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Kishanlal v. Commissioner of Income-tax) and the Allahabad High Court (Income-tax Officer, A-Ward, Agra v. Firm Madan Mohan Damma Mal) supported the department's stance that penalties could be imposed under the new Act for assessments completed after April 1, 1962.

The High Court ultimately agreed with the latter view, emphasizing that Section 297(2)(g) explicitly allows for penalty proceedings under the new Act for assessments completed after its commencement. The Court noted that the legislative intent was to provide a clear transitional provision to handle penalties for assessments straddling the old and new Acts.

Conclusion
The High Court concluded that the income-tax authority was justified in initiating penalty proceedings under Section 271 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, for assessments completed after April 1, 1962. The question posed was answered in the negative, affirming the applicability of the new Act's penalty provisions. Each party was directed to bear its own costs in the reference.

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