NITU SINGH ,HOWRAH vs. ITO,WARD-37(2), KOLKATA

The present appeal has been preferred by the assessee against the order dated 30.05.2023 passed u/s 250 of the Income Tax Act (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’) by the National Faceless Appeal Centre (hereinafter referred as the ‘CIT(A)’) relevant to A.Y 2013-14.

At the outset, the ld. Counsel for the assessee pointed out a delay of 15 days in filing of the appeal which is attributable to the fact that the ex parte order passed by the CIT(A) was served on the ex-tax consultant’s email, despite the correct email mentioned in Form no.35. The ld. AR submitted that the assessee came to know about the passing of the order by CIT(A) on 30.05.2023 only when the Assessing Officer issued notice u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act on 26.06.2023. Thereafter, the assessee tried her best to procure the Assessment Year: 2013-14 Nitu Singh appellate order and hand over to the Chartered Accountant who has taken sometime for preparation of appeal documents and finally the appeal was filed on 14.08.2023 and thus the delay of 15 days in filing the appeal. The ld. AR submitted that the assessee is not responsible for the reasons attributable to the late filing of appeal nor the assessee is benefitted by late filing of appeal in any manner whatsoever. The ld. AR, therefore, prayed that the delay of 15 days may kindly be condoned and the appeal may kindly be admitted for adjudication.

The ld. DR, on the other hand, has strongly opposed the admission of appeal on the ground that there is a delay of 15 days which the assessee has not explained satisfactorily and therefore, the same kindly be dismissed.

After hearing the rival parties and perused the materials on record. The delay in filing of the appeal is only because of the fact that the appellate order passed by the CIT(A) was sent to the ex-tax consultant’s email id. etaxationashif6@gmail.com. We have examined the Form no.35 and find merit in the contention of the assessee. Accordingly, the assessee cannot be held responsible for the delay which was not attributable to the assessee and accordingly, we are inclined to admit the appeal for adjudication by condoning the delay.

The assessee has raised two effective issues for us. One that the order passed by the Assessing Officer is invalid and without jurisdiction as the addition made by the Assessing Officer is not in respect of reasons recorded and therefore, the order passed u/s 143(3) r.w.s 147 of the Act dated 19.12.2017 is invalid and has to be quashed and secondly, the CIT(A) has not granted opportunity of hearing before passing of the order.

After hearing the rival parties and perused the materials on record, we note that the case of the assessee was reopened u/s 147 by issuing notice u/s 148 on 22.03.2017 after obtaining approval from the competent authority. Thereafter, during the course of assessment proceedings u/s 147 of the Act, the Assessing Officer accepted the plea of the assessee in respect of escapement of income of Rs.1,67,66,292/- which was treated to be escapement of Assessment Year: 2013-14 Nitu Singh assessment within the meaning of proviso to section 147 of the Act on account of deposits of the said amount in two bank accounts namely UBI, Sealdah Branch SB A/c No.0069010289043 and SBI Surya Sen Street Branch SB A/c No.30106310396, however, made addition in respect of another undisclosed bank account held with the UBI, Sealdah Branch, A/c No.0069050026734 of Rs.10,66,750/. Undisputedly the assessment framed by the Assessing Officer is not sustainable in view of the fact that no addition can be made to the income of the assessee which comes to the notice of the Assessing Officer during the assessment proceedings in terms of Explanation 3 to section 147 of the Act, if the Assessing Officer has accepted the plea of the assessee of not having concealed any income which was subject matter of the reasons recorded u/s 148(2) of the Act. The case of the assessee finds force by several decisions as discussed below:

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.