SHRI SUDHIRKUMAR PUKHRAJ BAGRECHA,AHMEDABAD vs. THE DCIT, CIRCLE-1(2), AHMEDABAD

The solitary ground of appeal

During the course of appellate proceedings before us, the ld. counsel has contended that assessee was not fully aware of the newly introduced procedure of e-filing of appeal in the electronic mode and when this fact was brought to his notice, the assessee had also filed the appeal in the electronic mode on 25th May, 2017. The ld. counsel has submitted that because of technical lapses on account of newly introduced system of filing of appeal in electronic mode the same could not be filed electronically because of technical error. However, the return in the paper form was furnished well within the stipulated time on 24th June, 2016. In view of these facts and circumstances, the ld. counsel has pleaded that the appeal of the assessee be adjudicated on merit. On the other hand, ld. departmental representative has supported the order of ld. CIT(A).

We have heard both the sides and perused the material on record. The assessee has filed appeal against the order of assessing officer in paper form no. 35 on 24th June, 2016, however, the same could not be filed electronically in form no. 35 within the stipulated time limit according to the Circular no. 20/2016 dated 26th May, 2016 of CBDT, New Delhi. The ld. CIT(A) has dismissed the appeal of the assessee holding that appeal was not filed in time in electronic mode by referring the above cited Circular of the CBDT. In this connection, we observed that the online filing of appeal was newly introduced during the year under consideration because of which the assessee had faced difficulty in uploading the appeal electronically in the system. The issuing of circulars by the CBDT for extending the date of filing the appeal implicit constraint and elucidate the hiccup in uploading the prescribed appeal in the system electronically. The above stated facts and findings indeed indicate that there was a bona fide reasonable cause for not filing the appeal electronically by the assessee, therefore, as per our considered opinion the ld. CIT(A) is not justified in dismissing the appeal. In view of the above facts and circumstances, we restore this appeal to the file of the ld. CIT (A) for adjudication on merit after affording adequate opportunities to the assessee.