Calcutta H.C: This is to consider an application for stay of all further penalty proceedings initiated pursuant to a notice dt. 20th March, 2000, under s. 271(1)(c)

High Court Of Calcutta

S.B.I. Home Finance Ltd. vs. CIT

Section 260A

Asst. Year 1995-96

Tarun Chatterjee & S.N. Bhattacharjee, JJ.

IT Appeal No. 185 of 2000 & Civil Appeal No. 2617 of 2000

24th July, 2000

Counsel Appeared

R.N. Bajoria, for the Appellant : J.C. Saha, for the Respondent

JUDGMENT

TARUN CHATTERJEE, J. :

This is to consider an application for stay of all further penalty proceedings initiated pursuant to a notice dt. 20th March, 2000, under s. 271(1)(c) of the IT Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) in respect of the asst. yr. 1995- 96 till the disposal of the instant appeal. The appellant-assessee carries on inter alia, business of housing finance leasing. In the usual course of its business, in December, 1995, it purchased a bio gas plant (In short “Plant”) from Western Paques (India) Ltd. (In short “W.P.I.L.”) and also had the plant duly insured. The appellant duly paid the purchase price of Rs. 14.5 crores of the plant to W.P.I.L. By a deed of lease dt. 30th Dec., 1994, the appellant leased out the plant to W.P.I.L. for a period of 96 months from the date of commencement of the lease. In the return for the asst. yr. 1995-96, the appellant claimed depreciation for the plant. Although the rental income of the plant was assessed in the hands of the appellant, the claim for depreciation was however, disallowed by the AO. The appellant filed an appeal and ultimately the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (in short “Tribunal”) dismissed the appeal of the appellant. Feeling aggrieved by the order of the Tribunal the instant second appeal has been filed by the appellant and by an order dt. 19th June, 2000, of a Division Bench of this Court, this second appeal has been admitted and an order of stay of realisation of the demand was granted for a period of four weeks from the date of passing that order with liberty to the parties to apply for extension, variation, and modification of the interim order in presence of the other side. Before proceeding further, we may keep it on record that at the time of taking up for hearing of the instant application. Mr. Bajoria, appearing for the appellant, has submitted that as the dues in terms of the order of assessment has already been realised by the authorities, the application for stay shall not be proceeded with any further. That being the stand taken by the appellant, the application for stay of realisation of the payment of demand has now become infructuous and, therefore, the same is being disposed of as infructuous by treating the said application as on the “day’s list”.

2. Let us now consider the application filed by the appellant for stay of all further penalty proceedings, as noted herein earlier, till the disposal of this appeal. On the entertainability of this application for stay, Mr. Mullick, appearing for the Revenue raised a preliminary objection. According to Mr. Mullick, since penalty proceeding has not arisen out of the assessment order for the asst. yr. 1995-96 and as the penalty proceeding initiated under s. 271(1)(c) of the Act is a distinct and separate proceeding and in view of the fact that this appeal shall be decided by this Court only on the grounds formulated by it, the penalty proceeding which has no nexus with the pending appeal cannot be stayed pending disposal of the appeal. This submission of Mr. Mullick was hotly contested by Mr. Bajoria for the appellant/petitioner.

3. On the question whether the preliminary objection as to the entertainability of the application for stay of the penalty proceeding in the pending appeal by this Court can be sustained, we have heard Mr. Bajoria, appearing for the assessee/appellant and Mr. Mullick for the Revenue. After hearing the learned senior counsel for the parties and after considering the scope and ambit of s. 260A of the Act, we are of the view that the High Court under s. 260A of the Act has been duly conferred with power to stay a penalty proceeding which has been initiated pursuant to the assessment order out of which the present instant appeal arises in this Court till the disposal of this appeal. Before we proceed further, we must keep it on record that from the assessment order for the asst. yr.1995- 96, it is evident that the AO passed a direction for initiating a penalty proceeding against the assessee-appellant under s. 271(1)(c) of the Act. From the aforesaid assessment order, it reveals that : “Issue penalty notice under s. 271(1)(c) of the Act on the point of leased plant and machinery.”

4. Before we proceed further, let us now consider the relevant provisions for filing appeals under the Act. Chapter XX deals with appeals. Sec. 246 and s. 246A of the Act deal with appeals filed before the appropriate authority if the assessee is aggrieved by an order of the AO named therein, Sec. 249 deals with the form of appeal and limitation. Sec. 260 of the Act confers power on the High Court or the Supreme Court to decide question of law raised on the case stated in pursuance of the order passed under ss. 256(1) and 256(2) of the Act. Sub-s. (1) of s. 260 of the Act says that the High Court or the Supreme Court upon hearing any such case shall decide the questions of law raised therein and shall deliver its Judgment thereon containing the grounds on which such decision is founded and a copy of the judgment shall be sent under the seal of the Court and the signature of the Registrar to the Tribunal which shall pass such orders as are necessary to dispose of the case conformably to such judgment. Sub-s. (1A) of s. 260 has been introduced by an amendment in view of coming into force of s. 260A of the Act. In sub-s. (1A) of s. 260 of the Act, it has been made clear that where the High Court delivers a judgment in an appeal filed before it under s. 260A, effect shall be given to the order passed on the appeal by the AO on the basis of a certified copy of the judgment. In this case, we are concerned with the power of the High Court to deal with appeals from every order passed in appeal by the Tribunal and also the scope and ambit of the High Court to deal with such appeals and applications filed therein. By the introduction of s. 260A of the Act as indicated herein earlier, the High Court has now been conferred with power to entertain a second appeal against every order passed in appeal by the Tribunal, if the High Court is satisfied that the case involves substantial question of law. Sub-s. (3) of s. 260A says that where the High Court is satisfied about substantial question of law involved in any case, it shall formulate that question. Sub-s. (4) of s. 260A says that the appeal shall be heard only on the questions so formulated and the respondents, shall at the hearing of the appeal be allowed to argue that the case does not involve such question. Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to take away or abridge the power of the Court to hear, for the reasons to be recorded, the appeal on any other substantial question of law not formulated by it, if it is satisfied that the case-involves such question. Sub-s. (5) of s. 260A confers powers on the High Court to decide question of law so formulated and delivers such judgment thereon containing the grounds on which such decision is founded and may award such cost as it deems fit. Sub-s. (6) of s. 260A confers powers on the High Court which may determine any issue which (a) has not been determined by the Tribunal or (b) has been wrongly determined by the Tribunal by reason of a decision on such question of law as is referred to in sub-s. (1). By a further amendment of s. 260A a new sub-section has been introduced by the legislature in the form of sub-s. (7) of s. 260A of the Act which runs as follows :

5. At this stage, we may keep it on record that Mr. Mullick, appearing for the Revenue could not dispute that the scope of reference and the scope of entertaining a second appeal under s. 260A of the Act are completely different. So far as s. 260A is concerned, a regular appeal shall lie to the High Court against every order passed in appeal by the Tribunal, if the High Court is satisfied that “Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of the CPC, 1908 relating to appeals to the High Court, shall, as far as may be, apply in the case of appeals under this section.” the case involves a substantial question of law as noted herein earlier. From sub-s. (6) of s. 260A it is pellucid that the sub-s. (6) of s. 260A of the Act has duly conferred power on the High Court to determine any issue which has not been determined by the Tribunal or has been wrongly determined by the Tribunal by reason of a decision on such question of law as is referred to sub-s. (1) of s. 260A. From a careful comparison of the language used in s. 260A of the Act and the language used in s. 100 of the CPC, it cannot be disputed that the language used in s. 260A of the Act is similar to the language used in s. 100 of the CPC. Similarly, sub-s. (6) of s. 260A of the Act is somewhat similar to s. 103 of the CPC. Keeping these provisions in mind, let us now, therefore, consider whether High Court, while exercising power under s. 260A of the Act is conferred with power to exercise O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC and is also conferred with inherent power under s. 151 of the CPC for the purpose of granting of refusing to grant an order of injunction or stay of the penalty proceeding pending disposal of a second appeal.

6. Before we go into this question, we may also take note of Chapter XXI of the Act which deals with penalties imposable. Sec. 275 of the Act under this Chapter deals with bar of limitation for imposing penalties. For the purpose of deciding the issue at hand, we feel that only the Explanation to s. 275 of the Act would be required to be reiterated which is as follows : Explanation : In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section : (i) the time taken in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to s. 129. (ii) any period during which the immunity granted under s. 245H remained in force; and (iii) any period during which a proceeding under this Chapter for the levy of penalty under this Chapter for the levy of penalty is stayed by an order of injunction of any Court. [Emphasis, italicised in print, added]

7. After a plain reading of the provisions contained in sub-s. (7) of s. 260A of the Act, as noted herein above, there cannot be any doubt in our mind to hold that the provisions of the CPC shall apply in the case of an appeal filed under s. 260A of the Act. Order 41, r. 5 of the CPC confers powers on the High Court as well as to the appellate Court to stay proceedings under a decree or order. Therefore, ordinarily in view of sub-s. (7) of s. 260A of the Act, the provisions of O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC would be readily applicable to an appeal filed under s. 260A of the Act and the High Court is conferred with power to stay a proceeding for recovery of demand arising out of the assessment order pending disposal of the appeal under s. 260A of the Act. This position in law was also not disputed by Mr. Mullick, appearing for the Revenue. However, Mr. Mullick sought to argue that since a penalty proceeding was a distinct and separate proceeding and as in the appeal filed under s. 260A of the Act, questions relating to the assessment order can only be decided by this Court and further-more the appeal shall be decided only on the questions formulated by it, there was no question of granting an order of injunction and/or stay of the penalty proceeding in the appeal pending under s. 260A of the Act as the High Court would only decide the questions formulated by it for decision and no other question. Therefore, Mr. Mullick contended that the provisions of O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC in spite of applicability of such a provision in view of sub-s. (7) of s. 260A of the Act cannot be applied to the facts and circumstances of this case. We are unable to accept this submission of Mr. Mullick. From the facts stated herein earlier it is clear that the penalty proceeding in fact, has been initiated against the assessee from the assessment order itself. The AO, while assessing the income-tax dues of the assessee, had passed direction for initiating a penalty proceeding against the assessee. Therefore, it can be easily said that the penalty proceeding has been initiated pursuant to the order of assessment passed by the AO. Accordingly, in our view, it cannot be said that the penalty proceeding is a distinct and separate proceeding from the appeal pending under s. 260A of the Act in this Court. It is true while deciding this appeal on the substantial questions of law, formulated by us for decision, this Court shall decide the same only on the questions formulated but in view of the proviso to sub-s. (4) of s. 260A of the Act, it can always be open to High Court to decide any other substantial question of law not formulated earlier by this Court, if this Court is satisfied that the case involves such question. Accordingly, the question whether the direction to initiate a penalty proceeding in the assessment order may be raised for decision by this Court. Therefore, it cannot be said that only because no question has been formulated regarding the direction to initiate a penalty proceeding against the assessee, it is not open to this Court to decide a question as to whether the direction given by the AO in the assessment order to initiate a penalty proceeding pursuant to the order of assessment was liable to be set aside. Therefore, in our view, there cannot be any difficulty to hold that since the assessment order contains direction to initiate a penalty proceeding against the assessee, the provisions of O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC can very well be applied to stay a penalty proceeding as well. Assuming the provisions of O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC cannot be pressed into action even then, we are of the view that in view of inherent power of the Court under s. 151 of the CPC, the High Court being a “Court” is entitled either to pass an order of injunction restraining the respondents from proceeding with the penalty proceeding or to stay further penalty proceedings pending disposal of the appeal. As noted herein earlier, in view of sub-s. (7) of s. 260A of the Act which clearly says that the provisions of the CPC would be applicable also in an appeal filed under s. 260A of the Act there is no doubt that by virtue of the inherent power conferred on the Court under s. 151 of the CPC an order of injunction can be passed by this Court to stay the penalty proceeding pending disposal of this appeal under s. 260A of the Act as there cannot be any dispute that the High Court, while exercising the power under s. 260A of the Act is a “Court” within the meaning of “Court” under s. 151 of the CPC. The law is well settled that where the provisions of O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC cannot be applied in a given case, the Court can exercise the inherent power conferred under s. 151 of the CPC as there is no specific provisions in the Code to grant such an order of stay or injunction. Therefore, even assuming that O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC cannot be applied in the present case, in our view, the High Court being a “Court” is entitled to exercise the inherent power under s. 151 of the CPC to grant stay or to pass an order of injunction restraining the respondents from proceeding with the penalty proceeding during the pendency of the appeal. In the case of Mrs. Kabita Trehar & Anr. vs. Balsara Hygiene Products Ltd. AIR 1995 SC 441, the Supreme Court while dealing with restitution under s. 144 of the CPC clearly laid down the principles as follows : “The jurisdiction to make restitution is inherent in every Court and will be exercised whenever the justice of the case demands. It will be exercised under inherent powers where the case did not strictly fall within the ambit of s. 144, s. 144 opens with the words “where and insofar as a decree or an order is varied or reversed in any appeal, revision or other proceeding or is set aside or modified in any suit instituted for the purpose…….” The instant case may not strictly fall within the terms of s. 144; but the aggrieved party in such a case can appeal to the larger and general powers of restitution inherent in every Court. [Emphasis, italicised in print, added]

Applying the principles laid down in the aforesaid decision of the Supreme Court, we are of the view that the High Court being a “Court” within the meaning of s. 151 of the CPC and also within the meaning of s. 260A of the Act, the High Court is entitled to exercise inherent power under s. 151 of the CPC. That being the position even if we hold that the provisions of O. 41, r. 5 of the CPC would not be applicable in the facts and circumstances of the case in its strict term, then also the power to grant stay of the penalty proceeding pending disposal of this second appeal can be exercised by this Court under s. 151 of the CPC. There is another aspect of the matter. For the purpose of coming to the aforesaid conclusion, one more section of the Act would be relevant for appreciating the above submission. The section that immediately comes to our mind is s. 275 of the Act. If we read sub-s. (7) of s. 260A of the Act and the s. 275 of the Act together, it would be clear that the High Court in an appeal filed under s. 260A of the Act retains power to grant stay or injunction in respect of the penalty proceeding in question. From a plain reading of s. 275 of the Act together with sub-s. (7) of s. 260A, it would be clear that in computing the period of limitation for the purpose of s. 275 of the Act, any period during which a proceeding under this Chapter for the levy of penalty is stayed by an order of injunction of any Court, shall be excluded. In view of this Explanation No. 3, although it relates to computation of limitation. We are of the view that Explanation No. 3 of s. 275 makes it clear that the period of limitation should be excluded when any period during which the proceeding for the levy of penalty is stayed by an order of injunction of any Court. From the above, an analogy can be easily drawn by us that in an appropriate situation, the High Court is not powerless to grant stay or pass an order of injunction for the purpose of staying the penalty proceeding during the pendency of the appeal.

10. For the reasons aforesaid, we dispose of the instant application by the following directions : (a) All further penalty proceedings initiated pursuant to the notice dt. 20th March, 2000, shall remain stayed till the disposal of this appeal. (b) Let the hearing of the appeal be expedited. Since the Revenue has already entered appearance, service of notice of appeal be dispensed with. Let the requisite number of paper books be filed. If no such direction for filing the same has not yet been made, the same may be filed within six weeks from this date in default, put up “for orders”. The appeal shall be listed within a period of two months from this date, The application for stay is thus disposed of in the manner indicated above.

As we have already disposed of the original application for stay on the stand taken by the learned senior counsel for the assessee and as we have already noted that the application for stay has now become infructuous, we dispose of the said application also as it has become infructuous.

There will be no order as to costs.

S.N. BhattachAerjee, J. :

I Agree.

[Citation : 249 ITR 438 ]

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