Imposition of penalty in certain cases

Imposition of penalty in certain cases.—

1. (1) If a registered stockist—
   • (a) fails to furnish a return as required by section 7 or fails to comply with the terms of a notice issued under sub-section
2. (2) of section 7 or sub-section
3. (1) of section 9;
   • (b) without reasonable cause, fails to pay tax within the time allowed;
   • (c) conceals the particulars of his stock or the value thereof or deliberately furnishes inaccurate particulars of such stock or value;
   • (d) fails to maintain any account or record as required by the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder; the assessing authority may, after giving the registered stockist a reasonable opportunity of being heard, direct him to pay, by way of penalty, in addition to the tax payable by him, a sum not exceeding one and a half times the amount of the tax.
4. (2) No penalty under this section shall be imposed where a person proves to the satisfaction of the assessing authority that the failure or the concealment was not willful.