ECO CARE PROJECTS PRIVATE LIMITED,GURGAON vs. ITO WARD - 8(1), NEW DELHI

When the appeal was called out for hearing, none appeared on behalf of the assessee to represent the case. Therefore, we proceed to dispose of the appeal with the assistance of learned Departmental Representative and based on material on record.

The primary grievance of the assessee is against ex parte disposal of its appeal by learned Commissioner (Appeals). Briefly, the facts are, assessee is a resident corporate entity. For the assessment year under dispute, assessee filed its return of income on 27.09.2014 declaring loss of Rs.16,30,355. The return of income filed by the assessee was selected for scrutiny and the assessing officer completed the assessment under Section 143(3) of the Act vide order dated 21.12.2016, determining the total income at Rs.91,24,370. The variation between the income returned by the assessee and as determined by the assessing officer was on account of the following two additions:

Against the assessment order so passed, assessee preferred an appeal before learned Commissioner (Appeals). However, by the impugned order, learned Commissioner (Appeals) disposed of assessee’s appeal ex parte by sustaining the additions made.

We have heard learned Departmental Representative and perused the material on record.

Undisputedly, appeal filed by the assessee before learned Commissioner (Appeals) was disposed of ex parte by sustaining the additions made by the assessing officer. Though, from the impugned order of learned Commissioner (Appeals), it appears that number of opportunities were granted to the assessee by learned First Appellate Authority, however, it is observed, a crucial issue raised by the assessee regarding expansion of scope of limited scrutiny by the assessing officer has not been addressed by learned Commissioner (Appeals).

Considering the fact that the appeal was disposed of ex parte because of which assessee did not get any opportunity to canvass its arguments on the issues raised before learned first appellate authority, we are inclined to set aside the impugned order of learned Commissioner (Appeals) for enabling the assessee to appear before him and advance his arguments on all the issues raised in the appeal.

In the result, the appeal is allowed for statistical purposes.