THE MANNERKKAD CO-OPERATIVE vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the appeal preferred by the petitioner institution is liable to be considered and disposed of on merits before proceeding with the recovery of amounts in terms of the orders passed by the assessment authority. Consequently, the Court directed the second respondent, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), to take up, consider, and pass appropriate orders on Exhibit P2 appeal at the earliest, at any rate, within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. Until orders are passed on the appeal, coercive proceedings based on the original assessment order are to be kept in abeyance. The principle established is that statutory appeals should be disposed of expeditiously, and recovery actions should be deferred pending the appellate decision.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Mannarkkad Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank Limited, a primary credit society, received an assessment order under the Income Tax Act. Aggrieved by this order, the petitioner filed a statutory appeal (Exhibit P2) and a stay petition (Exhibit P3) before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), the second respondent. Despite the pending appeal, demands were being raised based on the assessment order. The petitioner filed a writ petition before the High Court of Kerala seeking a direction to consider and dispose of their appeal before recovery proceedings are initiated.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the appellate authority should consider and dispose of the statutory appeal filed by the petitioner before coercive recovery proceedings are initiated based on the assessment order? (Question of procedure and law) Assessee's Contention: The petitioner argued that demands are being raised in terms of the assessment orders despite the pendency of their statutory appeal and stay petition. They sought a direction for the appeal to be considered and disposed of before any recovery action is taken. Revenue's Contention: The judgment records no specific arguments from the revenue's side.
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
JUDGMENT 1.Petitioner is a primary credit society which has been issued with assessment order under the Income Tax Act. Being aggrieved by the assessment order, the petitioner has preferred statutory appeal, Exhibit P2, before the 2nd respondent appellate authority under the Income Tax Act. The petitioner has also preferred Exhibit P3 stay petition in the appeal. However, it is contended that demands are being raised in terms of the assessment orders. 2.Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents, I am of the opinion that the appeal preferred by the petitioner institution is liable to be considered and disposed of on merits before proceeding with the recovery of amounts in terms of the orders passed by the assessment authority. 3.In the above view of the matter, there will be a direction to the 2nd respondent appellate authority to take up consider and pass appropriate orders on Exhibit P2 appeal preferred by the petitioner and to dispose of the same in accordance with law at the earliest, at any rate, within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Till orders are passed on the appeal, as directed above, coercive proceedings on the basis of the original order shall be kept in abeyance.
Writ petition is ordered accordingly.
Anu Sivaraman, Judge sj
Appendix — schedule of exhibits
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