(6)The provisions of this section as they stood immediately before their amendment by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, shall apply to and in relation to any assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year and references in this section to the other provisions of this Act shall be construed as references to those provisions as for the time being in force and applicable to the relevant assessment year.] [ Substituted by Act 3 of 1989, Section 68, for sub-Section (5)(w.e.f. 1.4.1989).][18-A. Penalty for failure to answer questions, sign statements, furnish information, allow inspections, etc.-(1) If any person,¬-(a)being legally bound to state the truth of any matter touching the subject of his assessment, refuses to answer any question put to him by a wealth-tax authority in the exercise of his powers under this Act; or(b)refuses to sign any statement made by him in the course of any proceedings under this Act, which a wealth-tax authority may legally require him to sign; or(c)to whom a summons is issued under sub-section (1) of section 37 either to attend to give evidence or produce books of account or other documents at a certain place and time, omits to attend or produce the books of account or documents at the place and time, he shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum which shall not be less than five hundred rupees but which may extend to ten thousand rupees for each such default or failure:Provided that no penalty shall be imposable under clause (c) if the person proves that there was reasonable cause for the said failure.
