M/S PATRAM LEASE HOLDERS vs. C I T
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the substantial questions of law proposed by the assessee did not arise in the present appeal. This was primarily because the matter had been remanded back to the Commissioner by the ITAT to decide the matter afresh. The ITAT, while concurring with the Commissioner on the desirability of a fresh assessment, had set aside the CIT's order and remanded it back to the CIT. The directions were for the CIT to issue a fresh show cause notice to the assessee and then decide the matter in accordance with law, after affording the assessee a reasonable opportunity of being heard. The Court viewed this procedural development as the key factor, rendering the proposed questions of law moot at this stage. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed.
What were the facts?
The assessee, M/s Patram Lease Holders, filed an appeal before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chandigarh Bench, for the assessment year 1997-98. The ITAT's order confirmed the action of the Commissioner of Income Tax (CIT) under Section 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The CIT had, by an order dated 27.03.2002, directed the Assessing Officer (AO) to frame a fresh assessment. This followed a notice issued by the CIT under Section 263(1) on 18.03.2002. The original assessment was framed on 16.03.2000. The ITAT, while agreeing with the CIT on the need for a fresh assessment, had set aside the CIT's order and remanded the matter back to the CIT to issue a fresh show cause notice and decide the issue after providing a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the assessee.
What were the issues?
The High Court was to decide the following substantial questions of law proposed by the assessee: 1. Whether the CIT was justified in taking action under Section 263, setting aside the assessment and directing a de novo assessment, based on an erroneous holding regarding proper service of notice. 2. Whether the ITAT was justified in confirming the CIT's action under Section 263, holding the AO's assessment erroneous and prejudicial to revenue due to lack of proper inquiries, without specifying them, and directing a de novo assessment. 3. Whether the ITAT erred in rejecting the additional ground that the CIT did not examine the assessment record before issuing the show cause notice under Section 263(1), thus wrongly assuming jurisdiction. 4. Whether the ITAT was justified in confirming the CIT's action under Section 263 without considering that the CIT did not have the assessment records on 18.02.2002, the date of issuing the notice, to conclude the AO's order was erroneous and prejudicial to revenue. 5. Whether the ITAT was justified in confirming the CIT's action under Section 263 without considering the principles of natural justice, specifically the requirement for the CIT to allow sufficient time to the assessee, which was not followed. 6. Whether the ITAT's confirmation of the CIT's action under Section 263 based on presumptions, assumptions, and doubts rendered its order perverse and bad in law. Assessee's Contentions: The assessee argued that the CIT's action under Section 263 was bad in law due to improper service of notice, lack of proper inquiry by the CIT, the CIT not examining the assessment record before issuing the show cause notice, and violation of principles of natural justice. The assessee also contended that the ITAT's order was perverse as it was based on assumptions and doubts. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment records no specific contentions for the revenue.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh Date of Decision: 09.09.2008 M/s Patram Lease Holders ...... Appellant Versus C.I.T., NH4, New CGO Complex, NH-IV, Faridabad ...... Respondent Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari
Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?
To be referred to the Reporters or not?
Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Present: Mr.S.K. Mukhi, Advocate for the appellant. Mr.Yogesh Putney, Advocate for the respondent. **** Ajay Tewari, J. The assessee has filed the present appeal under Section 260 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') against the order dated 14.07.2006 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench, Chandigarh (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal') in ITA No. 2366/DEL/2002 for the assessment year 1997-98 , proposing following substantial questions of law:-
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the C.I.T. was justified on facts and law in taking action u/s 263 thereby wrongfully setting aside the assessment and directing the A.O. to make it de novo by erroneously holding that there was proper service of notice which is factually and also legally bad in law?
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the law in confirming the action of C.I.T. u/s 263 in holding the action of the Assessing Officer in finalizing the assessment as erroneous in so far it is prejudicial to the interests of revenue on the basis that the AO has not made proper inquiries though without specifying the same and thereby setting aside the assessment and directing the A.O. to make it de novo?
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was justified in rejecting the additional ground of the appeal: “ CIT did not call for and examined the assessment record and hence not satisfied that assessment was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue before issue of show cause notice u/s 263” and therefore erred in assuming juri iction under Section 263 (1)” for want of evidence & being self serving assumption of facts?
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the law in confirming the action of C.I.T. u/s 263 by not applying his mind in view of the facts and evidences on record to prove that on the day of issuance of notice u/s 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on dated 18.02.2002 the CIT was not even having assessment records so as to hold that the order of assessment as passed by the A.O. after complete verification of books of account and other relevant record,details, bills and vouchers and explanation was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue?
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the law in confirming the action of C.I.T. u/s 263 without considering the mandatory and principles of natural justice requiring the CIT to have allowed sufficient time to the appellant wherein in the present case the said principles have not been properly followed?
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the law in confirming the action of C.I.T. u/s 263 on the presumptions, assumptions and doubts as the said factors can never be the basis of certainty and acceptance to decide a vital matter of judicial and legal importance, so that so, the orders of the ITAT is perverse and thus bad in law?” The assessment was framed on 16.3.2000. Subsequently by order dated 18.3.2002 the C.I.T. Faridabad issued a notice under Section 263(1) of the Act directing the assessee to appear on 26.3.2002. By order dated 27.3.2002 passed under Section 263 of the Act the Assessing Officer (A.O.) was directed to frame fresh assessment. This order was challenged before the Tribunal who, while concurring with the Commissioner as to the desirability of a fresh assessment and after holding as a fact that the Commissioner had satisfied himself by perusing the record, however, set aside the order and remanded the matter back to the Commissioner with the direction that he may issue show cause notice afresh upon the assessee and thereafter decide the matter in accordance with law after allowing it a reasonable opportunity of being heard. Viewed against this background and more particularly keeping in view the fact that the matter has been remanded back to the Commissioner to decide the matter afresh, we are of the view that substantial questions of law proposed by the assessee do not arise in the present appeal. Consequently the same is dismissed. (AJAY TEWARI) JUDGE (ADARSH KUMAR GOEL) JUDGE September 09, 2008 sunita
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