COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX JAIPUR vs. M/S RELAXE RUBBER PRODUCTS NEEM K

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ITA/411/2011HC RajasthanRJHC02042379200911 November 2011Bench: BELA M. TRIVEDI,NARENDRA KUMAR JAIN6 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that there was no question of law, much less a substantial question of law, involved in the appeal. The Court noted that the CIT(A) had found that the Assessee's turnover had increased, and the GP rate was better than the previous year. Crucially, the AO had not produced any material or evidence to indicate undisclosed purchases, sales, or expenses. The CIT(A) concluded that the defects pointed out by the AO were due to incorrect appreciation of evidence and that the AO was not justified in rejecting the books. The Tribunal concurred, emphasizing the lack of evidence for undisclosed transactions and the improved financial performance. The Tribunal also relied on the principle that past results are the best guide for estimating income and noted that the Assessee had addressed the AO's concerns. Therefore, the High Court found no reason to interfere with the concurrent findings of fact by the CIT(A) and the Tribunal, dismissing the appeal as devoid of merits.

What were the facts?

The Revenue has appealed against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) for Assessment Year 2004-05. The Assessing Officer (AO) had rejected the Assessee's books of accounts, making a trading addition of Rs. 14,91,017 and Rs. 3,86,552 for the Delhi branch. The AO also disallowed Rs. 11,27,898 of sales commission/discount and other expenses. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) partly allowed the Assessee's appeal. The Revenue appealed this to the ITAT, and the Assessee filed cross-objections. The ITAT dismissed the Revenue's appeal and partly allowed the Assessee's cross-objections, leading to the present appeal by the Revenue.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the High Court should interfere with the order of the ITAT, which upheld the CIT(A)'s decision to delete the trading addition and branch office addition, despite the AO invoking Section 145(3) of the Income Tax Act due to defective books of accounts. Assessee's Arguments: The Assessee contended that the CIT(A) and Tribunal correctly deleted the additions. The CIT(A) noted a turnover increase to over Rs. 23.10 crores from Rs. 19.67 crores in the previous year, with a better GP rate (14.99% vs. 14.93%). The AO had not provided material evidence of undisclosed purchases/sales or expenses. The defects pointed out by the AO were due to incorrect appreciation of evidence. The Tribunal, while confirming the CIT(A)'s order, noted the absence of any instance of undisclosed transactions and that the Assessee showed better turnover and GP rate. It also stated that past results are the best guide and that the Assessee had addressed the AO's pointed defects. The Tribunal also erred in law by allowing deduction on personal uses of various assets claimed by the respondent. Revenue's Arguments: The Revenue argued that the CIT(A) and Tribunal erred in law by not confirming the AO's order under Section 145(3), especially when the books of accounts were found to be defective. They contended that when the AO is not satisfied with the correctness of accounts, assessment should be made under Section 144, and the CIT(A) and Tribunal should have confirmed the AO's order.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 145(3),Section 144

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

D.B.CIVIL INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 411/2011 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR BENCH, JAIPUR. D.B.CIVIL INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 411/2011 COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, JAIPUR-III,JAIPUR ...APPELLANT V E R S U S M/S RELAXE RUBBER PRODUCTS NEEM KA THANA, SIKAR ...RESPONDENT Date of Judgment:- 11.11.2011 HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE NARENDRA KUMAR JAIN-I HON'BLE MS.JUSTICE BELA M.TRIVEDI Mr.Sameer Jain, for the appellant BY THE COURT (PER HON. TRIVEDI J.) The present appeal has been filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act (hereinafter referred to as the said 'Act') against the order dated 31.10.2008, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Jaipur Bench 'A' Jaipur (hereinafter referred to as the 'Tribunal) in ITA No. 305/JP/2008 and C.O. No. 26/JP/2008.

D.B.CIVIL INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 411/2011 2 2. The facts giving rise to the present appeal are that the respondent Assessee firm was engaged in the business of manufacturing and trading of Hawai Chappals, Canvas shoes etc. The said firm was assessed for the Asstt. Year 2004-05 by the Assessing Authority, who vide order dated 28.9.2006 rejected the books of accounts of the Assessee and made a trading addition of Rs. 14,91,017 and of Rs. 3,86,552/- in respect of Delhi Branch office. Assessing Officer also disallowed Rs.11,27,898/-, out of the sales commission/discount and also disallowed certain other expenses on lump sum basis. Being aggrieved by the said order, the respondent had preferred an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals)- III, Jaipur, who vide the order dated 26.11.2007 partly allowed the said appeal. The Revenue therefore, preferred the ITA being No. 305/JP/2008 and the respondent

assessee

filed

cross- objections against the said order passed by the CIT(A) before the Tribunal. The Tribunal vide order dated 31.10.2008 , dismissed the appeal of the Revenue and

D.B.CIVIL INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 411/2011 3 partly allowed the cross-objection of the respondent assessee . The Department, therefore, has preferred the present appeal before this Court under Section 260A of the said Act. 3. It has been submitted by learned counsel Mr. Sameer Jain for the appellant that CIT(A) as well as the Tribunal had materially erred in law in not confirming the order passed by the Assessing Officer invoking the provisions contained in Section 145(3) of the said Act, more particularly, when the books of accounts of the assessee were found to be defective. Pressing into service the provisions of Section 145(3) of the said Act, the learned counsel submitted that where the assessing officer was not satisfied about the correctness of the accounts of the assessee, the Assessing Officer was required to make an assessment in the manner provided in Section 144 and that in the instant case the Assessing Officer having invoked Section 145(3) of the said Act, on he having not been satisfied with the

D.B.CIVIL INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 411/2011 4 correctness of the books of accounts of the assessee, the CIT(Appeals) and the Tribunal ought to have confirmed the said order of A.O. He also submitted that the Tribunal had also erred in law in allowing the deduction on personal uses of various assets claimed by the respondent in its books of accounts. 4. Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant and the provisions contained in Section 145, more particularly Section 145(3) of the said Act, this Court is of the opinion that there is no question of law, much less substantial question of law involved in the instant case. 5. It is pertinent to note that the CIT(A) while setting aside the order of A.O. had held interalia that the turn over of the assessee had increased to over Rs. 23.10 crores in comparison to the turnover of Rs. 19.67 crores in the previous year and that the g.p. rate of 14.99% of the relevant assessment year was better than the g.p. rate of 14.93%

D.B.CIVIL INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 411/2011 5 in the previous year. It was also found by the CIT(A) that the A.O. had not brought any material or evidence on record to indicate any instance of undisclosed purchases/sales or expenses by the assessee. The CIT(A) had also found that the defects pointed out by A.O. were due to the incorrect appreciation of the evidence and that the A.O. was not justified in rejecting the books of accounts of the assessee. The Tribunal also while confirming the order of CIT(A) had held as under:- “Even there is no any instance of any undisclosed purchase/sales/expenses mentioned in the assessment order .Besides above, it was also contended that the assessee has shown better turnover and gross profit, hence there was no reason for the AO to ignore the same. Considering these material aspect of the case, we are of the view that even if it is accepted for the moment that there was defect in the books of account as the AO tried to, it is well established position of law that past result of assessee is the best guide to estimate the income. Undisputedly, the assessee had shown better turnover and better g.p. rate during the year in comparison to immediately preceding year as discussed above. The assessee has also met out the defects pointed out by the

D.B.CIVIL INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 411/2011 6 A.O. Considering all these facts and circumstances of the case especially the past result, we are of the view that the ld. CIT(A) has rightly deleted the trading addition and the addition made in the income of Branch Office against the declared loss.” 6. The CIT(A) and the Tribunal having considered the issues raised by the department in detail and not found substance therein, this Court is not inclined to interfere with the concurrent finding of facts recorded by the said two authorities. Even otherwise there being no substantial question of law involved, the present appeal being devoid of merits deserves to be dismissed and is accordingly , dismissed. (Bela M.Trivedi)J.(Narendra Kumar Jain-I)J. ij

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