C.I.T. UDAIPUR vs. AMOL AGARWAL

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ITA/46/2015HC RajasthanRJHC01039792201521 November 20164 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that there was no merit in the arguments advanced by the Revenue. Regarding the payment of wages, the Court noted that the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) had detailed discussions and arrived at a finding of fact that Rs. 1,53,00,051/- was paid to workmen. While the vouchers lacked complete details, this alone was not sufficient to conclude that no such amount was paid, especially since vouchers were available and bore thumb impressions of the recipients involved in construction work. The Court found these to be pure findings of fact affirmed by the ITAT. Concerning Section 69C, the Court acknowledged its effect but found that both appellate courts had concluded that the amount in question was adequately explained by the assessee, thus providing no justifiable reason to interfere. The Court also noted that the issue of rejection of books of accounts by the assessing authority had been previously considered between the same parties in another appeal (D.B. Income Tax Appeal No.59/2014) and found no merit in it. Therefore, the appeal involved no substantial question of law.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, represented by the CIT, Udaipur, filed an appeal against an order dated September 25, 2014, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Jodhpur Bench. The ITAT had affirmed an order dated May 2, 2014, passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The Revenue's primary contention was that the ITAT and the CIT(A) erred in not adding an amount of Rs. 1,05,31,837/- to the assessee's income. This amount was paid as wages, but the Revenue argued that inadequate details were provided regarding the recipients. A sum of Rs. 15,22,979/- remained unexplained, which the Revenue believed should have been added to the assessee's taxable income as per Section 69C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal erred in not adding an amount of Rs. 1,05,31,837/- to the assessee's income, paid as wages, due to alleged inadequate details of the recipients, and whether this constitutes unexplained expenditure under Section 69C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Assessee's Contention: Not recorded. Revenue's Contention: The Commissioner of Income Tax and the ITAT failed to appreciate that the amount of Rs. 1,05,31,837/- paid as wages lacked adequate details of the recipients. Furthermore, as per Section 69C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, unexplained expenses should be added to the taxable income, and in this case, a sum of Rs. 15,22,979/- remained unexplained but was excluded from taxable income.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 69C

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR D.B.INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 46/2015 C.I.T., UDAIPUR ----Appellant Versus AMOL AGARWAL ----Respondent ___________________________________________ Mr. KK Bissa, for the appellant ___________________________________________ HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GOVIND MATHUR HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI

Judgment 21/11/2016 This appeal is preferred to question correctness of order dated 25.9.2014 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Jodhpur Bench, Jodhpur in Income Tax Appeal No.413 /JU/2014. By the order impugned, learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal affirmed the order dated 02.05.2014 passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal). The submission of learned counsel for the appellant is that the Commissioner of Income Tax as well as the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal failed to appreciate that the amount of Rs.1,05,31,837/- was (2 of 4) (ITA No.46-2015) added in the income of the assessee as no adequate details were given about the persons to whom the amount aforesaid was paid against wages. It is further submitted that both the appellate courts did not appreciate the fact that as per Section 69 C of the Income Tax Act,1961 the unexplained expenses is required to be added in the taxable income of the assessee. In the case in hand, a sum of Rs.15,22,979/- remain unexplained, but, that has been excluded from the taxable income of the assessee. On examination of the facts averred in the orders passed by the Assessing Officer Commissioner of Income Tax Tribunal we do not find any merit in any of the argument advanced. So far as the issue with regard to payment of wages is concerned, suffice, to mention that the Commissioner of Income Tax in detail discussed the same and arrived at a finding of fact that the sum of Rs.1,53,00,051/- was paid to the workmen. True it is, the vouchers produced by the assessee were not having complete details, but merely on that count it cannot be held that no such amount was paid. The vouchers were available on record and those were also having thumb impression of the persons to whom the amount was paid. Pertinent to (3 of 4) (ITA No.46-2015) notice that the workman to whom the wages were paid are involved in construction work. In totality, the findings arrived by the Commissioner of Income Tax and as affirmed by the Income Tax Appellant are pure findings of fact. The other issue addressed by learned counsel that both the appellate courts failed to appreciate that as per Section 69C of the Act of 1961 the unexplained amount was required to be added in the Income Tax of the assessee. We are having no doubt about the effect of the provisions of Section 69 C of the Act of 1961 but in the instant matter both the appellate courts have given a finding of fact that the amount in question was adequately explained by the assessee as such no justifiable reason exist to interfere with the order impugned. Learned counsel also made an effort to address on the point that the books of accounts were rightly rejected by the assessing authority, but the appellate courts failed to examine the issue. suffice to mention that this aspect of the matter has already been considered by this Court between the same parties in D.B. Income Tax Appeal No.59/2014. In light of the order aforesaid this issue too is having no merit.

(4 of 4) (ITA No.46-2015) The appeal, as such, involves no substantial question of law, hence, dismissed. (DR. PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI)J. (GOVIND MATHUR)J. Anil Kumar Choudhary

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