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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, CUTTACK BENCH, CUTTACK
Before: SHRI CHANDRA MOHAN GARG
ITA No.143/CTK/2018 is filed by the assessee against the
order of the Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals)-2,
Bhubaneswar dated 23.11.2017 for the assessment year 2010-11
in the matter of penalty u/s.271(1)(c) of the Act and ITA
No.144/CTK/2018 is against the order dated 22.11.2017 u/s.
143(3) of the Act for the assessment year 2010-2011.
First, I take up the appeal in ITA No.144/CTK/2018 for
adjudication.
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ITA No. 143 & 144/CT K/ 2018 Asse ssment Year: 20 10- 201 1
Ground Nos.2 & 3 of appeal are general in nature and
hence, requires no separate adjudication by me.
The sole effective issue in this appeal is that the CIT(A)
erred in confirming the addition of Rs.7,34,000/- made by the
Assessing Officer.
I have heard the rival submissions, carefully gone through
the relevant materials placed on record of the Tribunal.
Ld A.R. of the assessee submitted that on being asked by
the Assessing Officer, the assessee submitted entire details
pertaining to the persons who have given hand loan in cash to the
assessee. Ld A.R. further submitted that the assessee received
loans in cash from the relatives and friends, which were deposited
in the bank account and further invested. Ld A.R. vehemently
pointed out that before the Assessing Officer as well as before the
CIT(A), the assessee submitted names, address and PAN Nos. and
amount received from the respective persons establishing the
identity, creditworthiness and capacity of every person. Ld A.R.
clarified that PAN No. pertaining to one person Shri Dinabandhu
Sahoo could not be submitted as he was not a taxpayer but
photocopy of voter ID was submitted showing his existence and
entity. Therefore, the authorities below were not correct in
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making the addition. Ld A.R. strenuously contended that the
findings recorded by the Assessing Officer while making the
addition are perverse and hyper technical and the CIT(A) ought to
have dismissed the same but unfortunately, the CIT(A) also
confirmed the action of the Assessing Officer without considering
the explanation of the assessee. Ld A.R. drew my attention to
paras 3.7 to 3.12 of the first appellate order and submitted that
the CIT(A) could not controvert the fact that the assessee
submitted the names, addresses and PAN Nos. of all hand loan
creditors except one Shri Dinabandhu Sahoo but the CIT(A)
proceeded to confirm the addition for want of identity of lenders in
the form of Adhar Card, whereas the authorities below being
Income tax authorities must have known the value of PAN Nos.,
which establishes the existence and identity of the hand loan
creditors before the income tax authorities. Ld A.R. submitted
that the CIT(A) has grossly erred in confirming the addition for
want of Adhar Card of the creditors despite the fact that the
assessee submitted the PAN Nos. alongwith names and address
pertaining to all creditors who provided cash loans to the
assessee. Ld A.R. submitted that the assessee has submitted all
the possible and relevant documentary evidence before the lower
authorities establishing the identity, existence and
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creditworthiness as well as capacity of the creditors. Therefore,
no addition is called for in this regard.
Ld A.R,. further submitted that the Adhar Card cannot be
held as most necessary and important document to prove the
identity, existence and genuineness of the persons ignoring the
fact the documents in respect of names, address and PAN Nos. of
the lenders. Ld A.R. submitted that the addition made by the AO
and confirmed by the CIT(A) may kindly be deleted.
Replying to the above, ld D.R. strongly supported the orders
of lower authorities and submitted that the assessee has created
an afterthought explanation and has submitted a list in a planned
manner of several persons claimed to be friends and relatives of
the assessee at a later date only to explain the cash deposits. Ld
D.R. strongly pointed out that the assessee has taken due care to
declare the loan for an amount of Rs.20,000/- or less than
Rs.20,000/- to escape from the mischief of provisions of section
269SS of the Act. Ld D.R. submitted that the confirmations filed
by the assessee does not bear the date of loan. Therefore, the
addition be confirmed.
On careful consideration of the rival submissions, from the
relevant operative para at page-5, I observe that the Assessing
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Officer acknowledges the fact that the assessee has furnished list
of persons alongwith PAN Nos., addresses and confirmations
obtained from the creditors but these documentary evidences and
explanations have been rejected by the Assessing Officer without
any verification from the creditors even on random basis. The
Assessing Officer proceeded to make addition of entire amount by
mentioning a normal human behavior and by also alleging that
due care has been taken by the assessee to declare the loan
amount of Rs.20,000/- or less than Rs.20,000/- to escape from
the triggers of section 269SS of the Act. Further, from the
relevant operating para of the first appellate order especially para
3.7, I observe that the CIT(A) also did not make any verification
and proceeded to confirm the addition for want of Adhar Card and
for want of confirmation of creditors regarding repayment whereas
the assessee did file confirmation of loan creditors before the
Assessing Officer which were dismissed on hyper technical ground
that the date of providing loan has not been mentioned therein.
In view of foregoing discussion, I am of the considered view
that the authorities below did not verify or examine the identity,
creditworthiness or genuineness of the transaction despite the fact
that the assessee submitted a detailed list containing names,
address and PAN of the creditors except one Shri Dinabandhu
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Sahoo. Regarding Sri Dinabandhu Sahoo, the assessee could only
file Voter ID and address. Looking into the facts and
circumstances of the case, I am inclined to hold that the assessee
has submitted all possible evidences under his hand before the
authorities below in the form of names and addresses and PAN of
creditors except one person. Further, the Assessing Officer
proceeded to make addition without any verification from the
respective creditors even on random basis. The CIT(A) also
dismissed the appeal of the assessee for want of Adhar Card
ignoring the vital evidence submitted by the assessee in the form
of names and address, PAN and confirmation of the creditors. In
my humble understanding, the assessee has discharged its onus
by providing all relevant details and documents and confirmation
from the respective persons. In this situation, I find that the onus
cast upon the assessee has been discharged by giving a cogent
and reliable details such as names, addresses, PAN nos and
confirmation from the creditors. Therefore, if the department did
not agree with the explanation, then the onus was on the
department to verify the facts. In the instant case, such onus
which shifted on the department has not been discharged. I also
find that keeping aside all the information and details furnished by
the assessee, the Assessing Officer proceeded to make the
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addition, which was confirmed by the CIT(A) on the sole ground
that the assessee has not furnished Adhar Cards of the creditors.
Therefore, the findings arrived at by the Assessing Officer as well
as the CIT(A) are not correct and justified and same are perverse
and, therefore, same are dismissed. I am satisfied that the
assessee has submitted all relevant details and documentary
evidences pertaining to all loan creditors alongwith the supporting
confirmations and these vital evidences cannot be ignored without
making any verification or examination. Finally, I hold that since
the assessee has established the identity, creditworthiness and
genuineness of the transaction, therefore, no further addition is
called for in this regard. Therefore, the addition made by the
authorities below has no legs to stand on the relevant provisions.
I, therefore, delete the same.
In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.
ITA No.143/CRTK/2018 is against levy of penalty
u/s.271(1)(c) of the Act.
Since, I have deleted the corresponding addition made by
the Assessing Officer and confirmed by the CIT(A) in the
quantum, appeal, the penalty U/s 271(1)(c) I.T. Act of Rs.
2,26,972/- has no legs to stand. While taking this view, I take
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support from judicial precedent in the case of K.C. Builders vs.
ACIT 135 Taxman 461 (SC), in which the Hon’ble Apex Court held
that where the additions made in the Assessment Order, on the
basis of which penalty for concealment was levied, are deleted,
there remains no basis at all for levying the penalty for
concealment, and therefore, in such a case, no such penalty can
survive and the same is liable to be cancelled. In view of the
foregoing, appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.
In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.
Order pronounced on 30/04/2019. Sd/- (Chandra Mohan Garg) JUDICIALMEMBER Cuttack; Dated 30 /04/209 B.K.Parida, SPS Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. The Appellant : Sri Jayasish Roy, Plot No.484, Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar
The Respondent. ITO, Ward 2(2), Bhubaneswar2, Bhubaneswar 3. The CIT(A)-2, Bhubaneswar 4. Pr.CIT- Cuttack 5. DR, ITAT, Cuttack 6. Guard file. //True Copy//
By order
Sr.Pvt.Secretary, ITAT, Cuttack
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