The Deputy Commissioner Of ... vs M.K. Ahammed Kutty on 9 April, 1976
12. Counsel for the assessee submitted that the basis of the judgment in Commissioner of Income-tax v. K. Ahamad [1974] 95 ITR 599 (Ker) [FB] would require re-examination in the light of the principle of the Full Bench decision in Commissioner of Income-tax v. Gujarat Travancore Agency [1976] 103 ITR 149 (Ker) [FB]. The ground for the submission was that while the earlier Full Bench decision had proceeded on the basis that penalty proceedings are criminal in nature, the latter Full Bench has stated that proceedings are not criminal. One of us (myself) is by no means sure that there is any warrant for the submission that there is a conflict in principle between the two Full Bench rulings. My learned brother, Kochu Thommen J., is quite clear and definite that there is none. Both of us are agreed that for the purpose of this case, it is quite unnecessary to go into this region.