COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Vs. INDORE SAMACHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BY this reference under S. 256(1) of the INCOME TAX ACT, 1961, hereinafter called "the Act", the IT Tribunal, Indore Bench, has referred the following questions of law to this Court for its opinion:

(2.) THE material facts giving rise to this reference briefly are as follows: The assessee derives income by running a printing press. The return of income was filed on November 18, 1967, disclosing an income of Rs. 24,600. A revised return was filed on March 20, 1972, showing an income of Rs. 35,483. This revised return was filed to correct a typing error. The amount of depreciation to be added back was wrongly typed in the original return as Rs. 11,814, instead of Rs. 22,796. In all other respects, the revised, return was the same as the original return. While framing the assessment, the ITO held that income to the extent of Rs. 23,168 was concealed by the assessee and hence, that amount was added to the income of the assessee. The ITO also commenced penalty proceedings and levied a penalty of Rs.23,168. On appeal, the AAC reduced the amount of penalty to Rs. 15,472. The assessee then preferred an appeal before the Tribunal. The Tribunal held that income was concealed as held by the AAC and penalty was, therefore, leviable. The Tribunal, however, accepted the assessee's contention that since the original return was filed on November 18, 1967, the law applicable would be that which was in force on April 1, 1967, and that, the amended provisions of S. 271(1)(c) of the Act, which came into force on April 1, 1968, were not attracted. The Tribunal, therefore, directed that the quantum of penalty be recomputed in accordance with the provisions of S. 271(1)(c) of the Act, as they stood on November 18, 1967. Aggrieved by the order passed by the Tribunal, the assessee as well as the Department made applications for making a reference to this Court. The first two questions have been referred by the Tribunal at the instance of the assessee, and the third question has been referred by the Tribunal at the instance of the Department.

(3.) NOW , so far as the first question is concerned, the Tribunal had material before it on the basis of which it came to the conclusion that there was a concealment of income by the assessee. This is a finding of fact. Learned counsel for the assessee referred to a decision in Dayabhai & Co. vs. CIT (1966) 59 ITR 364, and contended that Dayabhai Motor Service was in existence and was not a fictitious concern. The decision in Dayabhai & Co. vs. CIT (supra) however, refers to the registration of the assessee in the asst. year 1956 -57 and that decision cannot be pressed into service for holding that the said concern was in existence and that payment was made to that concern by the assessee in the assessment year in question, as alleged by the assessee. There was material before the Tribunal for holding that income was concealed by the assessee and, hence, our answer to the first question referred to us is in the affirmative and against the assessee.