PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 3 vs. SHARDABEN SHANKARJI THAKOR
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court permitted the Revenue to withdraw the present appeals. The Court noted that when the Revenue's counsel's attention was drawn to the ITAT's observation that the Departmental Representative gave no objection to the matter being remitted back to the CIT(A) for adjudication on merits, the counsel submitted that the Departmental Representative 'did not have much to say' and this could not be considered a concession. The counsel further submitted that the CIT(A) had granted numerous opportunities to the assessee for over one and a half years, which were not availed. The Revenue requested that any rectification applications they might file before the ITAT be considered in accordance with law and on merits, taking into account the factual matrix noted by the CIT(A). All appeals were disposed of as withdrawn with this liberty granted to the Revenue.
What were the facts?
The Revenue (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax - 3) filed five appeals before the High Court of Gujarat against a common order dated December 27, 2017, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The ITAT had remanded appeals for Assessment Years 2005-06 to 2009-10 back to the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) for a fresh decision de novo. The assessee is Shardaben Shankardji Thakor. The Revenue's grievance was that the ITAT set aside the CIT(A)'s order without appreciating that the assessee's non-compliance prevented the CIT(A) from deciding on merits, forcing an order based on the Assessing Officer's ex-parte findings. The Revenue also questioned the remand without considering justifiable grounds for the assessee's non-compliance.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal erred in setting aside the order passed by the CIT(A) on the ground that CIT(A) had not rendered any decision on merits, without appreciating that due to total non-compliance by the assessee, the CIT(A) had no material to decide on merits and had to frame an order based on the Assessing Officer's ex-parte findings? (Question of law) 2. Whether the Appellate Tribunal erred in setting aside the matter to CIT(A) for fresh adjudication without considering whether there were justifiable grounds for the assessee's total non-compliance before the CIT(A) and the AO? (Question of law) Assessee's contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's contentions: The Revenue argued that the ITAT erred in remanding the matter because the assessee's total non-compliance prevented the CIT(A) from deciding on merits. They contended that the CIT(A) had no choice but to pass an order based on the AO's findings. The Revenue also argued that the ITAT failed to consider if the assessee had justifiable grounds for non-compliance. The Revenue's counsel drew attention to the ITAT's observation that the Departmental Representative gave no objection to the remand, but argued this was not a concession and the Departmental Representative 'did not have much to say'. The Revenue sought liberty to file rectification applications before the ITAT.
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
C/TAXAP/894/2018 ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/TAX APPEAL NO. 894 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 895 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 896 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 897 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 898 of 2018 ================================================================ PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 3 Versus SHARDABEN SHANKARJI THAKOR ================================================================ Appearance: MR MANISH R BHATT, SENIOR ADVOCATE assisted by MRS MAUNA M BHATT(174) for the PETITIONER(s) No. 1 for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1 ================================================================ CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE
Date : 23/07/2018
ORAL ORDER (PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH) 1. As all these appeals arise out of common order passed by the learned ITAT for different Assessment Years, all these appeals are heard together. 2. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned common order passed by the learned Tribunal dated 27.12.2017 passed in IT (SS) Nos.112 to 116/Ahd/2015 for Assessment Years 2005-06 to 2009-10, by Page 1 of 4
C/TAXAP/894/2018 ORDER which the learned Tribunal has remanded the said appeals back to the file of the learned CIT (Appeals) for his fresh decision de novo, the Revenue has preferred the present appeals with the following proposed questions of law:- “(A) Whether the Appellate Tribunal erred in setting aside the order passed by the CIT(A) on the ground that CIT(A) had not rendered any decision on merits without appreciating the fact that due to total non-compliance on part of the assessee despite granting sufficient opportunities, CIT(A) did not have any material to further dwelt upon the issue and had no choice but to frame an order based on the finding, given in the ex-parte order passed by A.O.? (B) Whether the Appellate Tribunal erred in setting aside the matter to CIT(A) for fresh adjudication without taking into consideration
whether
there
were justifiable grounds for making total non- compliance by the assessee before the CIT(A) as well as the AO?” Page 2 of 4
C/TAXAP/894/2018 ORDER 3. When the attention of Shri Bhatt, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue was drawn to the observations made by the learned Tribunal in para-2 of the impugned common order that in fact, the Departmental Representative gave no objection to the matter being remitted back to the file of the learned CIT (Appeals) for adjudication on merits, how thereafter the Revenue /Department can make a grievance, to that, Shri Bhatt, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue submitted that even the learned Tribunal has specifically observed that the Departmental Representative has stated that he did not have much to say. It is submitted that as such, the aforesaid cannot be said to be a concession and /or on objection by the Departmental Representative. It is submitted that as such, in the present case, there was no question of any concession by the Departmental Representative in remitting the matter back to the learned CIT (Appeals) for fresh adjudication. As noted by the learned CIT (Appeals), for one and half year, number of opportunities were given to the assessee. Despite the same, he /they did not avail the same. It is submitted that therefore the Department would like to prefer rectification applications before the learned Tribunal. However, it is requested to observe that the said applications be considered in accordance with law and on merits and considering the factual matrix noted by Page 3 of 4
C/TAXAP/894/2018 ORDER the learned CIT (Appeals). 4. In view of the above, we permit the Revenue to withdraw the present appeals with the above liberty. All these appeals stand disposed of as withdrawn with the above liberty. As and when such applications are preferred, the same be considered in accordance with law and on its own merits and in light of the submissions to be made and /or even considering the findings recorded by the learned CIT (Appeals). (M.R. SHAH, J) (A.Y. KOGJE, J) SHITOLE Page 4 of 4
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