THE ITO, WARD-1(1), AHMEDABAD vs. M/S. ADANI AGRI FRESH LTD., AHMEDABAD

At the outset, after going through the grounds of appeal and the impugned orders of the Revenue authorities below, a query was raised by the Bench as to applicability and maintainability of the appeal filed by the Revenue in view of recent CBDT Circular No.3/2018 dated 11.7.2018 restricting the filling of the appeal by the Revenue where the tax effect is below Rs.20 lakhs, the ld. DR did not dispute the same and submitted that the issue is left to the Tribunal to be decided in accordance with law.

We find that the appeal of the Revenue is presented on 8.9.2015. On 11.7.2018 the CBDT has issued Instructions bearing No. 3 of 2018 under file No.F.No.279/Misc.142/2007-ITJ(Pt) prohibiting its subordinate authorities from filing of the appeal to the Tribunal against the order of the CIT(A) where the tax effect by virtue of the relief given by the CIT(A) is less than Rs.20 lakhs. The instructions have been made applicable with retrospective effect, meaning thereby, these instructions are applicable on pending appeals also. In the present case, “tax effect” on the total income assessed minus the tax that would have been chargeable had such total income been reduced by the amount of income in respect of the issue against which appeal is filed, is less than Rs.20 lakhs. Further, the case of the Revenue does not fall within the ambit of exceptions provided in the Circular. Thus, keeping in view the above CBDT circular and provisions of section 268A of the Income Tax Act, we are of the view that the present appeal of the Revenue deserves to be dismissed. It is accordingly dismissed.

In the result, the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed. Order pronounced in the open court on 22-01-2019