Income Tax Department vs. M/S Alpha Laboratories Ltd.

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ITA/136/2022HC Madhya Pradesh11 February 2025Bench: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI2 pages
For Petitioner: Veena Mandlik
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that the appeal filed by the Revenue was not maintainable. The Court observed that CBDT Circular No. 9/2024, dated 17/09/2024, which superseded earlier circulars including No. 3/2018, did not provide for an exception clause like 10(C) that would allow filing an appeal irrespective of the tax effect being below the monetary limits. Therefore, based on the prevailing circulars at the time of the decision, the appeal was dismissed. However, the Court clarified that the question of law raised in the appeal would remain open, and the appellant was at liberty to file an application if the cause of action survived as per law. The operative direction was dismissal of the appeal.

What were the facts?

The Income Tax Department (appellant) filed an appeal under Section 260(A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Indore, challenging an order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Indore. The appeal was against M/s Alpha Laboratories Ltd. (respondent). The core issue revolved around the entertainability of the Revenue's appeal before the High Court under Exception Clause 10(C) of CBDT Circular No. 3/2018. The tax effect involved in the case was Rs. 42,18,000, which was below the monetary limits stipulated in subsequent CBDT Circulars No. 17/2019 and 5/2024. The respondent was not represented before the High Court.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the appeal filed by the Revenue is entertainable before this Court under Exception Clause 10(C) of CBDT Circular No. 3/2018, notwithstanding that the tax effect involved (Rs. 42,18,000) is below the monetary limits specified in subsequent CBDT Circulars No. 17/2019 and 5/2024. Assessee (Revenue) Contentions: The appellant contended that the appeal was maintainable under Exception Clause 10(C) of CBDT Circular No. 3/2018. They relied on the existence of this exception clause to file the appeal despite the tax effect being below the general monetary limits. Revenue Contentions: No arguments were recorded for the respondent.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260(A)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AT INDORE BEFORE HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI & HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE GAJENDRA SINGH ON THE 11th OF FEBRUARY, 2025 INCOME TAX APPEAL No. 136 of 2022 INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT Versus M/S ALPHA LABORATORIES LTD. Appearance: Shri Harsh Parashar - senior standing counsel with Shri Shantanu Sharma - counsel for the appellant. None for the respondent. ORDER Per: Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari The instant appeal under Section 260(A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 has been preferred by the appellant being aggrieved by the order passed by learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Indore, in ITA No.548/IND/2018 dated 21/02/2022. The only controversy seems to be involved in the case as to whether the appeal filed by the Revenue would be entertainable before this Court under exception Clause 10(C) of CBDT Circular No.3/2018 dated 11/07/2018. Admittedly, the tax effect involved in the case is Rs.42,18,000/-, which is below the monetary limit as specified in the Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08/08/2019 and CBDT Circular No. 5/2024 dated 15/03/2024. 1 ITA-136-2022 NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2025:MPHC-IND:3574 Signed by: HEMANT SARAF Signing time: 20-02-2025 12:47:52 Signature Not Verified

(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI) JUDGE (GAJENDRA SINGH) JUDGE On perusal of the Circular dated 15/03/2024, which was later on, amended by Circular No. 9/2024 dated 17/09/2024 issued by CBDT supersedes the Circular dated 11/07/2018 and 08/08/2019, it is seen that it does not provide exception clause i.e. 10(C), wherein the appeal can be filed notwithstanding that the tax effect entailed is less than the monetary limits under the exceptions given. In view of above, the appeal is not maintainable. Accordingly, same is hereby dismissed. However, the question of law raised in this appeal shall remain open and the appellant would be at liberty to file application, in case cause of action survives as per law. HS

2 ITA-136-2022 NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2025:MPHC-IND:3574 Signed by: HEMANT SARAF Signing time: 20-02-2025 12:47:52 Signature Not Verified

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