DCIT, OOTY vs. N.PURUSHOTHAMAN, COIMBATORE
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ‘A’ BENCH, CHENNAI
Before: SHRI MAHAVIR SINGH, VICE- & SHRI G.MANJUNATHA
PER MAHAVIR SINGH, VP: These cross appeals by the Revenue as well as the
assessee are arising out of order passed by the Commissioner
of Income Tax (Appeals)-3, Chennai dated 18.10.2016. The
assessment was completed by the ACIT., Salary Circle-I,
Coimbatore for relevant assessment year 2011-12 u/s.
2 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter “the
Act”) vide order dated 06.06.2014. The cross objection
No.34/Chny/2017 is filed by the assessee against order of the
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-3, Chennai in ITA
No.425/14-15 dated 18.10.2016. Since, issues involved in
these cross appeals & cross objection are common, we heard
together and dispose of the same by this common order.
At the outset, it is noticed that appeal filed by the
Revenue as well as the assessee are barred by limitation of
two days and 37 days respectively. In regard to ITA
No.76/Chny/2017 filed by the Revenue, the order of the CIT(A)
dated 18.10.2016 was received on 10.11.2016. The appeal
was to be filed on 09.01.2017, however, the appeal was filed by
the Department on 11.01.2017, due to intervening holidays.
Going by the reasons, we are of the view that cause is
reasonable and hence, delay of 2 days is condoned and
appeal is admitted.
In regard to ITA No.393/Chny/2017 filed by the assessee,
order of the CIT(A) dated 18.10.2016 was received by the
3 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
assessee on 10.11.2016 and appeal has to be filed on
09.01.2017. However, the assessee filed appeal only on
15.02.2017 with delay of 37 days. The learned counsel for the
assessee submitted that the staff has kept entire papers of this
appeal inadvertently with other bundle and same was not
traceable immediately. Therefore, the said delay occurred in
filing of this appeal by the assessee and he prayed that delay
may be condoned in the interest of justice. Considering the
affidavit filed by the assessee for condonation of delay, we are
of the view that cause is reasonable and hence, delay of 37
days is condoned and appeal is admitted.
The common issue in these cross appeals, one by the
Revenue and one by the assessee is as regards to order of the
CIT(A) directing the Assessing Officer to restrict disallowance
at Rs.25 lakhs being 7.5% of total development expenses
claimed by the assessee at Rs.3,29,86,128/-, whereas the
Assessing Officer has disallowed expenses by invoking
provisions of section 40A(3) as well as provisions of section 37
of the Act amounting to Rs.1,91,09,889/-. For this, the
Revenue has raised following grounds:-
4 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
“2. On the facts and circumstances of the case, the ld. CIT(A) erred in directing the Assessing Officer to disallow only Rs.25 Lakhs, being 7.5% of the total development expenses of Rs.3,29,86,128/- claimed by the assessee. 3. The Id. CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that the expenses claim towards cash payment to the assessee, who is the proprietor, for incurring expenses is not genuine in as much as the said accounts are prepared by the assessee after the survey and is an afterthought.
The Id. CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that as per the statement recorded during the course of survey, the assessee had not maintained any books of accounts other than those impounded during survey and negated the expense claim of Rs.1,91,09,889/-. 5. The Id. CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that the expense claim of Rs.1,91,09,889/- being "Cash paid to Purushothaman for expense incurred" was not reflected in any of the impounded materials and accordingly confirmed the addition.
The ld. CIT(A) should have appreciated the fact that even if t is acceptable logically that the assessee has to incur some expenses in relation to his business, the onus is on the assessee to prove the genuineness of such expenses claimed.”
The assessee has raised following ground:-
“2. The CIT(A) erred in estimating part of income and relying on the entries in books of account for determining balance part of income. The CIT(A) ought to have estimated income from entire business by rejecting books of account.”
Brief facts are that the assessee, an individual is engaged
in business of real estate and developer. For the assessment
year 2011-12, the assessee filed his return of income on
28.05.2012. A survey under section 133A of the Act, was
5 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
conducted by the Income-tax department on the assessee
during which the assessee admitted undisclosed income of
Rs.2.91 crores for the relevant assessment year 2011-12. The
Assessing Officer, during the course of scrutiny assessment
proceedings, noticed from the profit & loss account of the
assessee that he has debited an amount of Rs.3,95,34,448/- for
development expenses and out of which the assessee debited
a sum of Rs.1,91,09,889/- being cash paid to Purushothaman,
the assessee. The Assessing Officer required the assessee to
file documents and vouchers of such expenses and details of
nature of such expenses. The assessee before the Assessing
Officer filed reply in response to show-cause notice and the
reply is quoted in the order of the Assessing Officer, which is
being quoted for the sake of clarity as under:-
“2. Secondly, in the development expenses, it has been proposed to disallow of Rs.1,91,09,889/- towards "being the cash paid to Purusothaman for expense". I have developed the agricultural land that I have purchased and converted them into marketable condition into saleable sites. For these purposes, in order to meet the expenses for the conversion and development charges, I have drawn the amount from my Proprietor firm in the capacity as Proprietor of the firm. Hence, invoking provision u/s.40A(3) is not correct as the payment has withdrawn by me towards business
6 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
expenditure. Therefore, I request your good self to drop the additions in this regard.
2.1 Next, withdrawing the amount from the firm in the capacity as Proprietor towards the business expenditure does not amount to income in my individual capacity. Since, I am the proprietor or the firm, there are no two different persons wherein at one person it is treated to be income and the other person to be treated as expenses. Hence, the proposed addition is not correct as per general principle of accountancy and therefore I request you drop the additions proposed in this regard.”
The Assessing Officer noted that the assessee has simply
given bald reply and not submitted any details, nature of
expenses, supporting vouchers or documents during the
scrutiny proceedings to prove identity and genuineness of such
transactions. Therefore, the Assessing Officer first made
disallowance u/s.37 in regard to expenses of Rs.1,91,09,889/-.
Notwithstanding, the Assessing Officer made disallowance by
invoking provisions of section 40A(3) of the Act, being
expenses paid in cash in excess of Rs.20,000/- per day per
person, otherwise than account payee cheque or account
payee draft. Aggrieved, the assessee preferred appeal before
the CIT(A).
7 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
During the course of appellate proceedings before the
CIT(A), the assessee filed some evidences and the CIT(A)
referred the evidences for Assessing Officer’s comments
under Rule 46A(1) of the Income Tax Rules, 1962. The CIT(A)
summarized arguments of the Assessing Officer and the
assessee in para 4 of the appellate order and relevant portion
reads as under:-
a) The books were supported by vouchers. The Assessing Officer has stated that the supporting evidence is not reliable as they are self made vouchers. It was replied that in this line of trade, no other way of maintenance of vouchers/receipts was possible.
b) All expenses drawn by the proprietor from the accounts have been disallowed under section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Assessing Officer states that certain ledgers not produced at the time of survey under section 133A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and they were prepared at a later stage as an afterthought. It was stated by the appellant's AR that these were prepared as part of finalisation of accounts. Only an amount of Rs.16,65,078/- out of the Development Expenses were disallowable u/s.40A(3). The Assessing Officer has doubted the reliability of ledgers and the supporting vouchers. c) According to the appellant's AR, the land in question was not a business asset that of at the time of purchase and the payment was made to agriculturists at the time of purchase. It became a business asset only in the subsequent financial year, when the concerned authority gave permission for converting the land and selling in plots. Moreover, addition for payment of stamp duty, registration charges and what is held as closing stock even now cannot be disallowed under section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Assessing Officer has not made any further submission on this.
8 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
d) Disallowance under section 40(a)(i)(a) is not sustainable as the recipient has filed return of income and paid tax on the same. e) The reopening under section 147 was based on certain reasons recorded and that addition has not been made in the Assessment Order. Since no return of income has been filed in response to notice under section 148, the assessment u/s 143(3) is not valid.”
In view of the above, the CIT(A) agreed with the arguments of
the assessee and statement made by the Assessing Officer in
remand report that only Rs.16.67 lakhs, out of total
disallowance of Rs.1,91,09,889/- made by the Assessing
Officer is in cash payment and disallowance can be restricted to
this extent of Rs.16.67 lakhs. As regards to genuineness of
development expenses expressed by the Assessing Officer
u/s.37 of the Act, the CIT(A) noted that nature of supporting
vouchers maintained by the assessee, it is easily inferable that
reasonable estimate of disallowance out of development
expenses claimed can be made. According to the CIT(A),
total development expenses claimed is Rs.3,29,86,128/-. The
CIT(A) noted that land purchased has been developed into
plots and the Assessing Officer has not called into question the
necessity for incurring development expenses, and estimated
9 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
disallowance of Rs.25 lakhs was made by him, which works
out to 7.5% of development expenses claimed and which
would also cover cash expenses of Rs.16.67 lakhs.
Accordingly, on both counts the CIT(A) has considered
disallowance at Rs.25 lakhs. Aggrieved, now both the Revenue
and the assessee are in appeal before the Tribunal.
We have heard rival contentions and gone through facts
and circumstances of the case. We noted that the Assessing
Officer himself in his remand report admitted that only an
amount of Rs.16,65,078/- out of total development expenses
were made in cash and same should be disallowed u/s.40A(3)
of the Act. There remains no doubt or ambiguity. As regards
to genuineness of expenses, we noted that the CIT(A) has
made estimation considering nature of vouchers and evidences
maintained by the assessee and he estimated profit at 7.5% of
development expenses claimed and accordingly, he estimated
profit at Rs.25 lakhs. According to the CIT(A), this Rs.25 lakhs
will also cover disallowance made u/s.40A(3) of Rs.16.67
lakhs. We find no infirmity in the findings of the CIT(A), as he
has based his findings on the Assessing Officer’s remand report
10 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
and as regards to genuineness of expenses, he has estimated
profit on total development expenses claimed, which includes
cash payment and estimated at Rs.25 lakhs. According to us,
estimation made by the CIT(A) is reasonable and hence, this
common issue of both the appeals is dismissed.
The next issue in assessee’s appeal is as regards to
order of the CIT(A) sustaining disallowance made by the
Assessing Officer u/s.40A(3) of the Act in regard to
disallowance made on purchase of land at Rs.5,92,03,729/-.
For this, the assessee has raised following ground:-
“3. a) The Honourable Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in sustaining the disallowance u/s 40A(3) partly by holding that the provisions of that section would apply even to agricultural land. b)The Honourable Commissioner of Income tax (Appeals) failed to appreciate the fact that, the agricultural land could be converted as business assed only upon getting approval of the concerned authorities, thereby the provisions of section 40A(3) would not be attracted at the time of purchase of agricultural land. b)The Honourable Commissioner of Income tax (Appeals) failed to follow the ratio laid down by ITAT, Jodhpur Bench in the case of Smt Jiya Devi Sharma vs ACIT (165 TTJ 20).”
11 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
Brief facts are that the Assessing Officer on verification of
profit & loss account during the scrutiny assessment
proceedings noticed that the assessee has debited directly an
amount of Rs.8,15,37,415/-on account of land purchase
account i.e., land at Elango Nagar and Archana Avenue
Garden. During the course of survey, statement of assessee
was recorded u/s.133A of the Act, wherein the assessee
admitted that land has been purchased at Elango Nagar for
Rs.4,12,54,165/- and at Archana Avenue Garden for
Rs.4,02,83,250/-. The Assessing Officer called for break-up of
land purchase account along with mode of payment and details
of accounts. The assessee submitted details of copy of ledger
account for purchase of land and on analysis of such details,
the Assessing Officer found that the assessee has made
payment of cash more than Rs.20,000/- per day per person for
land purchase at Elango Nagar for Rs.2,98,23,000/- and at
Archana Avenue Garden for Rs.2,93,80,729/-. Hence, the
Assessing Officer required the assessee to explain as to why
such payment of Rs.5,92,03,729/- should not be disallowed by
invoking provisions of section 40A(3) of the Act. Admittedly,
12 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
these payments are made in cash and there is no dispute
about it. The assessee replied before the Assessing Officer
that as regards Elango Nagar land total sum was settled at
Rs.4,12,54,165/- by the power-agent, partly by way of cash
and partly by way of cheque and accordingly, cash settlement
was Rs.2,69,23,000/-. As regards to Archana Avenue Garden
land, total cost was settled at Rs.4,02,83,250/-, out of which
cash element was Rs.2,93,80,729/- . The assessee only
explained that these are agricultural lands and hence, does not
attract provisions of section 40A(3) of the Act and therefore, no
disallowance should be made. But, the Assessing Officer
noted that the assessee has engaged in the business of real
estate and developer and he has debited these expenses in
his profit & loss account and hence, provisions of section
40A(3) of the Act applies. Accordingly, he made disallowance
of Rs.5,65,03,729/-, whereas in final assessment order, it is
added as Rs,5,92,03,729/-. In regard to claim of deduction of
Rs.29 lakhs, which is paid by the assessee by cheque, the
Assessing Officer during the course of scrutiny assessment
proceedings considered the same and has not made any
13 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
addition in operative para, wheras in final computation, he has
wrongly taken entire amount as Rs,5,92,03,729/- instead of
Rs.5,65,03,729/-. We rectify the computation to that extent.
Aggrieved, the assessee preferred an appeal before the
CIT(A).
The CIT(A) confirmed action of the Assessing Officer by
observing as under:-
“5.2 As regards payment of Rs 5.92 crore for land, the payment towards stamp duty and registration fees will have to be excluded from the disallowance under section 40A(3). The appellant claimed that since the fond was not a business asset at the point of purchase, and payment was made to agriculturists, the amount is not covered under section 40A (3). The land became a business asset only after permission was granted by the competent authority. which was in the subsequent financial year, 2012-1. lt is to be taken note of that when a claim is made for an expenditure which has Men paid in cash in excess of Rs 20000- in a single day to a person. it will attract provisions of section 40A(3), unless it is covered under exceptions in Rule 6DD of Income Tax Rules,1962. No such exception has been stated by the appellant’s AR. The payments for land in excess of Rs 20000/- would attract provisions of Section 40A(3) unless it is covered by exceptions in Rule 6DD.The decision cited by the appellant's AR Smt.Jiya Devi Sharma Vs AClT (ITAT,. Jodhpur Bench 165 TTJ (Jd)(UO) 20 (2014) is not applicable as in that case the asses see did not have a bank account in that place and payments had to be made in cash. Though the issue of conversion of agricultural land into stock-in-trade has been discussed, the facts of the present case are clear and unambiguous and it will be covered under section 40A(3) when expenditure is claimed as a deduction, while computing profits and gains from business and profession.
14 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
The appellant's AR further contended that if at all addition under section 40A(3) is considered, it should be restricted to what has been claimed as expenditure. If the land is reflected as stock, that portion cannot be considered for closing disallowance under section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. for the financial year in which it has not been claimed as deduction as expenditure or purchase. The disallowance under section 40A(3) is to be restricted to that part of the payments for land in cash, where has been claimed as deduction for the financial year 2010-11 relevant for assessment year 2011-12 and what is remaining as closing stock, as on 31.03.2011 should be excluded from disallowance under section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act.1961 for Assessment Year 2011-12. The Assessing Officer shall restrict disallowance u/s.40A(3) for cash payments for land purchase accordingly.”
Aggrieved, the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal.
Before us, the learned counsel for the assessee Mr.
N.V.Balaji made argument first of all, that land purchased is
agricultural lands and for the purchase of agricultural land
provisions of section 40A(3) will not apply. Secondly, he
argued that on the date of purchase, asset was agricultural land
and land has not become business asset, but, it became
business asset only on conversion of agricultural land into plots,
thereby, it became stock-in-trade. The learned counsel for the
assessee stated that the assessee has not at all claimed
15 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
business expenditure in regard to purchase of agricultural land
and this expenditure can be considered in the year, when it is
brought in as stock-in-trade and plots are sold at that point of
time it can be considered as expenditure. In terms of these
three facets of arguments that on disallowance of expenditure
u/s.40A(3) in respect of purchase of land, the learned counsel
for the assessee stated that the CIT(A) has not considered the
issue properly. The CIT(A) directed the Assessing Officer to
restrict disallowance u/s.40A(3) only on that part for which
payment for land in cash has been claimed as deduction for
the financial year 2010-11 relevant to the assessment year
2011-12 and what remains as closing stock as on 31.03.2012
should be excluded from disallowance u/s.40A(3) of the Act.
The CIT(A) directed the Assessing Officer accordingly. The
learned counsel argued that entire expenditure is not claimed
by the assessee and hence, for this year no disallowance
should be made.
On the other hand, the ld.CIT DR Mr. R.Mohan Reddy
argued that the assessee is engaged in the business of real
estate and developer and once land is purchased i.e.
16 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
purchased as business asset and immediately, it is brought
into stock-in-trade. He stated that the assessee has debited this
amount into profit and loss account and once amount is
debited, the assessee claimed entire expenditure and for which
the assessee has made cash payment . Once, the assessee
has made cash payment for incurring this expenditure, the
Assessing Officer has rightly applied provisions of section
40A(3) for making disallowance of entire amount of Rs.5.92
crores, being cost towards purchase of land, payment towards
stamp duty and registration charges etc. In term of the above,
the CIT DR heavily relied on order of the Assessing Officer and
that of the CIT(A).
We have heard rival contentions and gone through facts
and circumstances of the case. First we have to analyze
whether the assessee’s claim of agricultural land falls under
purview of section 40A(3) of the Act or not. The facts of the
present case is that the assessee is an individual and
proprietor of M/s.Nilgiris Garden Real Estate and engaged in
the business of real estate. During the year, the assessee has
purchased agricultural land for a sum of Rs.8,15,37,415/- i.e.,
17 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
at Elango Nagar and Archana Avenue Garden. Admittedly, the
assessee has made cash payment to the tune of
Rs.2,69,23,000/- for Elango Nagar land and paid a sum of
Rs.2,93,80,729/- for Archana Avenue Garden land. The
assessee debited expenditure directly in the land purchase
account asper copies of ledger account, purchase account of
land submitted before the Assessing Officer and CIT(A). The
assessee in his books of account has treated this purchase of
land as closing stock. According to us, the assessee once
engaged in real estate business and purchased agricultural
land for the purpose of developing the same into plots and
debited the expenses directly in the land purchase account, as
evidenced from copies of ledger account, the assessee’s asset
is business asset. The assessee cannot claim that nature of
land in his hand is agricultural land. By no stretch of
imagination, it can be said that the land is agricultural land. The
land is stock-in-trade and hence, plea of the assessee cannot
be accepted at all.
Coming to another facet of argument of the assessee that
the assessee has not claimed expenditure, the accounts of the
18 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
assessee clearly reveal that the assessee has claimed
deduction of expenditure and admittedly, payment for the same
expenditure is made in cash . In view of the above, we are of
the considered view that the CIT(A) has rightly upheld
disallowances u/s.40A(3) of the Act and direction given to the
Assessing Officer. Hence, we confirm order of the CIT(A) on
this issue and this issue of the assessee is dismissed.
The next issue in the appeal of the assessee is as
regards to order of the CIT(A) confirming disallowance of
expenses for non-deduction of TDS by invoking provisions of
section 40(a)(ia) of the Act.
We have heard rival contentions and gone through facts
and circumstances of the case. The Assessing Officer, on
verification of profit & loss account, noticed that theassessee
has debited expenses on interest payment of Rs.3.00 lakhs to
one Shri P.T.Dinakaran for unsecured loans. Since no TDS was
deducted, the Assessing Officer disallowed expenses by
invoking provisions of section 40(a)(ia) of the Act. Now before
us, the learned counsel for the assessee only made submission
19 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
that recipient party i.e. Shri P.T.Dinakaran has included this
interest income in his return of income and this fact is noted by
the CIT(A) . He has read out from order the CIT(A), where this
fact is recorded in para 5.4 as under:-
“5.4 As regards the disallowance u/s.40(a)(ia)
amounting to Rs.3,00,000/- the appellant has
produced evidence for the recipient having paid tax
and filed return of income. It was contended that the
second proviso of section 40(a)(ia) is curative and
clarificatory in nature.”
As recipient has disclosed the income in his return of income
i.e. Mr.P.T.Dinakaran, disallowance should not be made in the
hands of the assessee in view of the second proviso to section
40(a)(ia) of the Act, as amended .w.e.f 01.04.2014, which is
retrospective. The learned counsel for the assessee before us
filed decision of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of
CIT Vs. Ansal Land Mark Township P. Ltd.(2015) 377 ITR 635
(Del) for the proposition. The ld. CIT DR has not objected.
After hearing both the parties and going through facts, we
noted that admitted facts are that recipient has disclosed
20 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
income in his return of income and once he has paid taxes on
the same, the assessee can be absolved from payment of TDS,
in view of the second proviso to section 40(a)(ia) of the Act, as
amended w.e.f. 01.04.2014, which is held to be retrospective in
nature by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT Vs.
M/s. Ansal Land Mark Township P. Ltd. (supra). As the issue
is covered, we allow this issue of the assessee’s appeal.
The next issue in the appeal of the assessee is as
regards to order of the CIT(A) in not adjudicating the issue of
reopening of assessment u/s.147 of the Act, in light of
judgement of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of
CIT Vs. Jet Airways(India) Ltd. 331 ITR 236.
Brief facts relating to this issue are that the assessment
was completed by the ACIT., Salary Cirlce-1, Coimbatore for
the relevant assessment year 2011-12 u/s.143(3) of the Act
vide order dated 06.06.2014. Subsequently, the assessee
moved before the CIT(A) and challenged issue of reopening in
the first round and the CIT(A) in the first round has quashed
21 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
reassessment proceedings. This appellate order of the CIT(A)
was challenged by the Revenue before the Tribunal in ITA
No.750/Mds/2016, wherein the Tribunal vide order dated
11.08.2016 has allowed appeal of the Revenue on the issue of
reopening, but directed the CIT(A) to decide grounds raised by
the assessee on merits. The relevant finding given by the
Tribunal in ITA No.750/Mds/2016 in para 7 reads as under:-
“ 7. The case law mainly relied on by the ld. CIT(A) in the case of Super Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Addl. CIT [2010] 129 TTJ (Chennai) [TM] 305 has no application to the facts of the present case. In that case, admittedly, there was no search and seizure or survey conducted by the Department and therefore, the Coordinate Bench of the Tribunal has given a solitary findings that unless the return filed by the assessee is scrutinised by the Assessing Officer, he cannot come to the conclusion of any escapement of income and moreover, the Assessing Officer cannot initiate proceedings under section 147 when the time for issuance of notice under section 143(2) has not expired. But in the present case, the Assessing Officer is not required to proceed to scrutinize the return filed by the assessee to come to the conclusion that there is escapement of income since the assessee has admitted less income in the return than what was admitted during the course of survey proceedings under section 133A of the Act. Under the above facts and circumstances, quashing the assessment passed under section 143(3) r.w.s.147 of the Act by the ld. CIT(A) cannot be sustained under law. Accordingly, we restore the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer under section 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act and direct the ld. CIT(A) to decide the grounds raised by the assessee on merits.”
22 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
Now before us, the learned counsel for the assessee was
asked whether any ground regarding reopening of assessment
was raised before the CIT(A) in second round, the counsel for
the assessee could not point out, but he drew our attention to submissions made before the CIT(A) during 2nd round, while
he referred to only para 4.3 of the submissions dated ‘Nil’,
enclosed as annexure in the paper book at pages 2 to 10.
But, when it was pointed out that whether the assessee is in
challenge of order of the Tribunal confirming reopening and
setting aside the matter back to the file of the CIT(A) to decide the issues on merits, he challenged or not, the learned counsel
stated that he already preferred appeal before the Hon’ble
Madras High Court and the matter is pending. We have seen
from facts that first of all, in second round, the assessee had
not raised any ground before the CIT(A) or not raised any plea
regarding issue of reopening on the issue other than the one
considered for reopening, in view of the decision of the Hon’ble
Bombay High Court in the case of Jet Airways (India) Ltd.
(supra). Since no ground is raised either before the CIT(A) , the
issue has attained finality or the matter is pending before
23 ITA No. 76 & 393/Chny/2017 & C.O. No.34/Chny/2017
Hon’ble Madras High Court on this issue. Hence, at this stage,
we are not inclined to entertain this issue. Hence, the issue is
dismissed.
In the result appeal of the assessee is party allowed.
In regard to cross objection filed by the assessee, the
assessee has raised similar grounds as that of the appeal in
ITA No.393/Chny/2017 and hence, same is dismissed as
infructuous.
In the result, appeal filed by the Revenue is dismissed
and that of the assessee is partly allowed. The cross objection
filed by the assessee is dismissed as infructuous. Order pronounced in the open court on 13th April, 2023
Sd/- Sd/- ( जी. मंजुनाथ ) ( महावीर �संह ) ( G.Manjunatha ) ( Mahavir Singh ) लेखा सद%य / Accountant Member उपा�य�/ Vice-President चे(नई/Chennai, )दनांक/Date: 13.04.2023 DS आदेश क� ��त+ल,प अ-े,षत/Copy to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. आयकर आयु.त (अपील)/CIT(A) 4. आयकर आयु.त/CIT 5. ,वभागीय ��त�न2ध/DR 6. गाड� फाईल/GF.