JAIKISAN SAMIRTAI GANWANI,PUNE vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-1(3), PUNE, PUNE

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ITA 797/PUN/2023Status: DisposedITAT Pune28 July 2023AY 2010-116 pages

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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, SMC BENCH, PUNE

Before: SHRI R.S. SYAL

For Respondent: Shri Ajay D. Kulkarni

आदेश / ORDER

PER R.S. SYAL, VP:

These three appeals by the assessee arise out of two separate

ex parte orders dated 18-09-2017 & 10-12-2019 passed by the

CIT(A)-13, Pune 13 & CIT(A)-10, Pune in relation to the

assessment years 2009-10 to 2011-12.

2.

The extant appeals are time barred by 1245 and 2058 days

respectively. The assessee has filed the condonation applications

along with affidavit of the Chartered Accountant explaining the

reasons which led to delay in presenting the appeals before the

Tribunal. In support of delay, the assessee relied on the judgment of

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Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Vijay Vishin Meghani in

ITA No.493/2015, dt. 19-09-2017 and also the judgment of Hon’ble

Supreme Court in Cognizance for Extension of Limitation, In re 438

ITR 296 (SC) read with judgment in Cognizance for Extension of

Limitation, In re 432 ITR 206 (SC) dated 08-03-2021 and 421 ITR

314 as part of the delay covers the Covid-19 pandemic period.

3.

I have heard the ld. DR and gone through the relevant material

on record. There is no appearance from the side of the assessee

despite notice. As such, I am proceeding to dispose of the appeals ex

parte qua the assessee.

4.

The moot point is as to whether such a long delay deserves

condonation. At this stage, it is relevant to note the judgment of the

Hon’ble Bombay High Court in Vijay Vishin Meghani Vs. DCIT &

Anr (2017) 398 ITR 250 (Bom) holding that none should be deprived

of an adjudication on merits unless it is found that the litigant

deliberately delayed the filing of appeal. In that case, delay of 2984

days crept in due to improper legal advice. Relying on Concord of

India Ins. Co. Limited VS Nirmala Devi (1979) 118 ITR 507 (SC), the

Hon’ble jurisdictional High Court condoned the delay.

5.

In yet another case in Anil Kumar Nehru and Another vs. ACIT

(2017) 98 CCH 0469 BomHC, there was a delay of 1662 days in

3 ITA Nos.793, 797 & 798/PUN/2023 Jaikisan Samitrai Ganwani

filing the appeal. Such a delay was not condoned by the Hon’ble

High Court. In further appeal, condoning the delay, the Hon’ble

Supreme Court in Anil Kumar Nehru vs. ACIT (2018) 103 CCH 0231

ISCC, held that : `It is a matter of record that on the identical issue

raised by the appellant in respect of earlier assessment, the appeal is

pending before the High Court. In these circumstances, the High

Court should not have taken such a technical view of dismissing the

appeal in the instant case on the ground of delay, when it has to

decide the question of law between the parties in any case in respect

of earlier assessment year. For this reason we set aside the order of

the High Court; condone the delay for filing the appeal and direct to

decide the appeal on merits.’

6.

In view of the aforenoted judgments, the delay in filing the

appeals is condoned and the appeals are admitted for disposal on

merits.

A.Y. 2009-10 & A.Y. 2010-11:

7.

It is seen that the assessments in the captioned assessment

years were framed u/s.143(3) r.w.s.147 of the Act determining total

income at Rs.9,66,698/- as against declared income of Rs.3,40,410/-

and at Rs.18,61,898/- as against the declared income of Rs.4,65,650/.

The ld. CIT(A), in para 1.6 of the impugned order, noted as under :

4 ITA Nos.793, 797 & 798/PUN/2023 Jaikisan Samitrai Ganwani

“I have considered the facts of the case. As stated, before me, the Appellant has not substantiated his Grounds of Appeal raised with his arguments and supporting evidence. Therefore, I confirm the addition of the gross profit of Rs.9,66,698/- for the A.Y. 2009-10 and of Rs.18,61,898/- for the A.Y. 2010-11 made by the learned AO.”

He thus eventually dismissed the appeals of the assessee for the years

under consideration ex parte qua the assessee.

A.Y. 2011-12 :

8.

Similar position prevailed for this assessment year as well. The

AO completed the assessment u/s.143(3) r.w.s.147 of the Act

determining total income at Rs.36,21,467/- as against Rs.6,76,720/-

returned by the assessee.. The ld. CIT(A) passed the ex parte order

in the absence of the assessee.

9.

After hearing the ld. DR and considering the entirety of facts

and circumstances of the extant assessment years under

consideration, I am of the opinion that it would be just and fair if the

impugned orders are set-aside and the matters are remitted to the file

of the ld. CIT(A) with a direction to decide the appeals afresh as per

law after allowing a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the

assessee. I order accordingly. Needless to say, the assessee will be at

liberty to lead any fresh evidences in support of its case.

5 ITA Nos.793, 797 & 798/PUN/2023 Jaikisan Samitrai Ganwani

10.

In the result, the appeals are allowed for statistical purposes.

Order pronounced in the Open Court on 28th July, 2023.

Sd/- (R.S.SYAL) VICE PRESIDENT पुणे Pune; िदनांक Dated : 28th July, 2023 सतीश

आदेश की �ितिलिप अ�ेिषत/Copy of the Order is forwarded to: अपीलाथ� / The Appellant; 1. ��थ� / The Respondent 2. 3. The Pr.CIT concerned 4. DR, ITAT, ‘SMC’ Bench, Pune गाड� फाईल / Guard file. 5.

आदेशानुसार/ BY ORDER, // True Copy // Senior Private Secretary आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण ,पुणे / ITAT, Pune

6 ITA Nos.793, 797 & 798/PUN/2023 Jaikisan Samitrai Ganwani

Date 1. Draft dictated on 27-07-2023 Sr.PS 2. Draft placed before author 28-07-2023 Sr.PS 3. Draft proposed & placed before JM the second member 4. Draft discussed/approved by JM Second Member. 5. Approved Draft comes to the Sr.PS Sr.PS/PS 6. Kept for pronouncement on Sr.PS 7. Date of uploading order Sr.PS 8. File sent to the Bench Clerk Sr.PS 9. Date on which file goes to the Head Clerk 10. Date on which file goes to the A.R. 11. Date of dispatch of Order.

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