SHRI. RAMAIAH RAMACHANDRA,TUMAKURU vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-2, , TUMAKURU

This appeal at the instance of the assessee is directed against CIT(A)’s order dated 22.09.2023, passed under section 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter called ‘the Act’). The relevant Assessment Year is 2017-18.

At the very outset, I notice that the appeal of the assessee before the CIT(A) has been decided ex-parte. The reason for deciding the appeal ex-parte was that assessee did not respond to notices issued from the Office of the CIT(A) (notices dated 04.11.2022, 10.07.2023 and 08.09.2023) for filing the written submissions. The learned AR submitted that assessee is a senior citizen and was not aware of the nuances of the new regime of income-tax e-proceedings and notices of hearing sent by the Office of the CIT(A) was inadvertently not communicated to his tax consultant. It was also submitted that not responding to the notice of hearing was not deliberate or intentional. It was submitted that in the interest of justice and equity, assessee may be provided with one more opportunity to represent his case before the AO, since the assessment was completed under section 144 of the Act.

The learned Standing Counsel was duly heard.

I have heard the rival submissions and perused the material on record. The CIT(A) has not decided the issue on merits since the assessee has not responded to the notices issued on 04.11.2022, 10.07.2023 and 08.09.2023. The assessee is a senior citizen and was not aware of the new regime of income-tax e-proceedings and notices of hearing sent by the Office of the CIT(A) was inadvertently not communicated to his tax consultant. In the interest of justice and equity, I am of the view that one more opportunity ought to be granted to the assessee to present his case. In the instant case, since the assessment was completed under section 144 of the Act, I deem it appropriate to remit the issue raised on merits to the files of the AO. The AO is directed to afford reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee. The assessee is directed to co-operate with the Revenue and not to seek unnecessary adjournments. With the aforesaid observations, I restore the matter to the files of the AO.

In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.