MANAGEMENT GROUP Vs. COMMISSIONER OF SERVICE TAX

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellant challenges the order of the Commissioner (Appeals) upholding the order -in -original imposing penalty of Rs. 20,551/ - under Section 76 of the Finance Act, 1994, for late payment of Service Tax. The appellant did not file any reply to the show cause notice.

(2.) THE learned authorised representative for the appellant submitted that the appellant had deposited the service tax along with interest on 13.8.02 and the service tax return was to be submitted on 25.4.02. There was delay of only about four months. It was submitted that since the appellant honestly deposited the dues, penalties should not have been imposed under Section 76 of the Act. Moreover, there was a Extra -ordinary -Tax -Payer Friendly Scheme, benefit of which has not been given to the appellant. It was also submitted that the appellant was suffering from asthma which should have been considered as a reasonable cause for waiving the penalty by applying the provisions of Section 80.

(3.) IT is evident from the provision of Section 76 that mens rea is not an ingredient for imposing the penalty thereunder unlike the provisions of Section 78. The provision of Section 76 have to be mandatorily applied unless the ground is made out for not imposing penalty as contemplated by Section 80.