12.2 The learned departmental representative basically relied on the
decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Dharmendra Textile
Processors 306 ITR 277 (SC) wherein it is held that penalty u/s 271(1)(c) is
not a civil wrong and mens rea is not required to be established. This
judgment was considered by the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the
case of Haryana Warehousing Corporation (2009) (supra) wherein it is held
that the issue arose before the Apex Court was u/s 11C inserted in the
Central Excise Act, 1944 by the Finance Act, 1996 where penalty for evasion
of payment of tax had to be mandatorily levied irrespective of the fact whether
it was an intentional or innocent omission. Thus, the Apex Court was
examining a proposition whether mens rea was an essential ingredient before
levy of penalty u/s 11AC of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
By showing utmost regard
and by following the finding judgment of the jurisdictional Hon'ble
12
I.T.A. No. 461(Asr)/2011
Assessment year: 2006-07
Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case of CIT v. Haryana
Warehousing Corporation cited at (2011) 53 DTR (P&H) and after
giving thoughtful consideration to overall facts and circumstances, it
can be safely held that the ld. Assessing Officer is not justified in
making an addition of Rs. 91,49,311/- by not giving specific instances
of diversion and misdirections of the Trust's accumulated
funds/income from its main charitable objectives of general public
utility as envisaged under provisions of Section 2(15) of the I.T. Act,
1961 and before doing so denying the opportunity of confrontation
and hearing to the appellant in the larger interest of natural justice.
Instead of doing this, he ought to have allowed the benefit of carrying
forward the set apart accumulated funds on the strength of form No.
10 r/w Rule 17 of the I.T. Rules, 1962 laying already available with
him. On both these counts, the addition made by the A.O. cannot be
sustained in the eye of justice. Accordingly, the addition so made at
Rs. 91,49,311/- is hereby deleted. This disposes of appellant's
ground of appeal No. 1 & 4 in favour of the appellant
accordingly."
Reference was also made to the decision of Hon'ble
Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case of CIT vs. Haryana
Warehousing Corporation (2009) 314 ITR 215 (P&H) and it was
contended that for levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) the revenue is not
justified in relying on the judgement under a different legislative
enactment.
5.1 With regard to the denial of claim of exemption u/s 10
(23C) (iiiad), contested in ground No.3 of appeal, the AR
submitted that the primary object of the appellant society is
imparting education and for the fulfillment of that object, a
primary school is being run. He relied upon the case law of
jurisdictional High Court in CIT vs. Haryana Warehousing
Corporation, 43 ITR 580 wherein it was held that if the primary
or predominant object of any Institution is charitable, any other
object which might not be charitable but which is ancillary to
dominate purpose -eligible as valid charitable institution.
and
CIT Vs Haryana Warehousing Corp. 314 ITR 215 (P &
H). The Ld. CIT(A) has rejected the contention of the
assessee on the ground that the assessee herself
admitted that the return was compiled on the basis of
audited accounts. She has the services of the C.A. and
therefore, she cannot take the plea that she was not
conversant with the complexity of tax laws. As far as
the contention of the assessee is that she would not get
any financial benefit because no business is being
carried out for the last 12 years and there is no scope of
any business activities in the subsequent yeas are
concerned, Ld. CIT(A) has observed that nobody can be
aptly certain about the future prospects of ones business
and the sense of enterpreneurship always strive to gain
profits. He rejected the appeal of the assessee.
Further, it has been also decided in the case of C.I.T.
vs. Haryana Warehousing Corporation (P&H) P. 215 (ITA No.
871 of 2008), Dated 1.7.2009 (Punjab & Haryana) that levy
of penalty under section 271(1)(c) for non-disclosure of
deemed dividend income on account of ignorance of law the
penalty under section 271(1)(c) is not imposable upon
assessee.