275. Bar of limitation for imposing penalties.

(1) No order imposing a penalty under this Chapter shall be passed-

(a) in a case where the relevant assessment or other order is the subject-matter of an appeal to the Commissioner (Appeals) under section 246 or section 246A or an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal under section 253, after the expiry of the financial year in which the proceeings, in the course of which action for the imposition of penalty has been initiated, are completed, or six months from the end of the month in which the order of the the Commissioner (Appeals) or, as the case may be, the Appellate Tribunal is received by the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, whichever period expires later;

(b) in a case where the relevant assessment or other order is the subject-matter of revision under section 263, after the expiry of six months from the end of the month in which such order of revision is passed;

(c) in any other case, after the expiry of the financial year in which the proceedings, in the course of which action for the imposition of penalty has been initiated, are completed, or six months from the end of the month in which action for imposition of penalty is initiated, whichever period expires later.

(2) The provisions of this section as they stood immediately before their amendment by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988), shall apply to and in relation to any action initiated for the imposition of penalty on or before the31st day of March, 1989.

Explanation.-In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section,-

(i) the time taken in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to section 129;

(ii) any period during which the immunity granted under section 245H remained in force;and

(iii) any period during which a proceeding under the Chapter for the levy of penalty is stayed by an order or injunction of any court,

shall be excluded.