None for the Petitioner. K.G. Goyal, Sr.DR for the Respondent.

The above captioned appeal filed at the instance of assessee pertaining to Assessment Year 2006-07 is directed against the orders of Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-1 (in short ‘Ld.CIT(A)’], Bhopal dated 07.09.2018 which is arising out of the order u/s 271(1)(c) (of Income Tax Act, 1961)(In short the ‘Act’) dated 21.03.2016 framed by ACIT-4(1), Bhopal.

2. Assessee has raised following grounds of appeal;

“That Ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming penalty of Rs.103870/- u/s 271(1) (of Income Tax Act, 1961)(c ) of the Act.

3. When the case was called no one on behalf of the assessee attended the hearing. It was decided to hear the appeal with the assistance of Ld. DR and available records. On perusal of the order of Ld. CIT(A) we find that the assessee did not appear before him also. During the course of penalty proceedings assessee did not appear. The sole grievance of the assessee is levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) (of Income Tax Act, 1961) at Rs. 1,03,870/-

4. Ld. Departmental Representative vehemently argued supporting orders of both the lower authorities.

5. We have heard Ld. DR and perused the records placed before us. We observe that the assessee filed Income Tax Return on 13.11.2006 for Assessment year 2006-07 declaring total income of Rs.3,89,297/- and also claimed exempt income of Rs.71,33,689/- . Case selected for scrutiny and assessment completed u/s 143(3) (of Income Tax Act, 1961) on 28.11.2008 accepting the returned income. It shows that complete details were examined in the first round of assessment proceedings and there was no observation against the assessee that the assessee has concealed particulars of income or furnished inaccurate particulars of income. Subsequently notice u/s 148 (of Income Tax Act, 1961) was issued and the assessment u/s 147 (of Income Tax Act, 1961) was completed on 19.3.2012 assessing total income at Rs,6,94,894/-. The net disallowance was Rs. 3,05,597/- which too was on account of estimated expenses not disallowed by the assessee for earning the exempt income at Rs.71,33,689/-. The Ld. A.O made proportionate disallowance of Rs.3,05,597/- u/s 14A (of Income Tax Act, 1961) in respect of finance charge debited in the Profit & Loss account. On this disallowance u/s 14A (of Income Tax Act, 1961) penalty proceedings were initiated which finally reached to the level of levy of penalty at Rs.1,03,807/-

6. Assessee has shown all the expenses in the Profit & Loss account and there is no dispute about the particulars provided in the books of accounts nor the Ld. A.O has rejected the book results since no such finding is appearing in the penalty order as well as appellate order. There is no mandatory rule that for earning exempt income assessee has to incur any expenditure. It is only when the Ld. A.O is satisfied about the type and amount of expenses which have been incurred specifically for earning the exempt income and has been debited to Profit & Loss account for claiming expense against the revenue liable to be taxed. In the instant case the disallowance u/s 14A (of Income Tax Act, 1961) is on estimated basis made proportionately out of the finance charges. There is no case of concealment of particulars of income or furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income since the amount has been duly debited as expenses in Profit & Loss account. Since no bonafide intention or mensura on the part of the assessee is appearing on the face of the record placed before us, we are of the considered view that Ld. A.O was not justified in levying the penalty u/s 271(1)(c) (of Income Tax Act, 1961) at Rs.1,03,870/-. Therefore in the given facts and circumstances of the case we set aside the finding of Ld. CIT(A) and delete the penalty of Rs.1,03,870/- levied u/s 271(1)(c) (of Income Tax Act, 1961).

7. In the result appeal of the assessee is allowed.

The order pronounced in the open Court on 18.03.2020.