INCOME TAX OFFICER, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT vs. REGULATED MARKET COMMITTEE, ATTABIRA, ATTABIRA

It was the submission that the ld. CIT-DR that the assessment in the case of the assessee came to be completed u/s.147 r.w.s144 r.w.s144B of the Act on 01.03.2023, wherein the AO had made addition representing the fresh time deposit as unexplained investment. Further the interest received on the said fresh time deposit was also treated as unexplained money. It was submitted that addition has been made as the assessee has not responded to the notice issued by the AO. It was the submission that on appeal, the ld. CIT(A) had deleted the additions by holding that the income of the assessee was exempt u/s.10(26AAB) of the Act as the assessee is an agricultural produce market committee constituted under Orissa Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1956 for the purpose of regulating the marketing of agricultural produce. It was the submission that the order of the ld. CIT(A) is liable to be reversed and that of the AO be restored.

In reply, Shri Sudam Panigrahi, the accountant of the assessee committee vehemently supported the order of the ld. CIT(A).

We have considered the rival submissions. A perusal of the order of the ld. CIT(A) clearly shows that the ld. CIT(A) has considered the facts that the assessee is an agricultural produce market committee constituted under Orissa Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1956 for the purpose of regulating the marketing of agricultural produce and in view of the same, the income of the assessee is eligible for exemption u/s.10(26AAB) of the Act. This finding of the ld. CIT(A) has not been dislodged by the revenue. Further, admittedly, the ld. CIT(A) has taken into consideration the fact that the assessee was facing technical glitches in responding to the notices issued by the AO along with supporting documents to the