MANUBHAI HARGOVANDAS PATEL vs. INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL MUMBAI AND ANR.
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the prayer for refund of Rs. 8,23,999/- plus Rs. 17,03,704/- with interest could not be granted as the assessment proceedings had not been terminated in accordance with law, but rather remanded back to the AO for fresh adjudication. Consequently, prayers (A) and (B) were found to have no merit. Regarding prayer (C), seeking directions to the CBI to register a case, the Court found no case made out by the petitioner and rejected this prayer as unwarranted. The Court noted that the ITAT had already decided the appeal on February 18, 2005, remanding the matter to the AO, and the petitioner admitted to receiving notice for this fresh adjudication. The Court directed the AO to proceed with the assessment and complete it within three months from the receipt of the order, hoping for the petitioner's cooperation. The petition was dismissed in limini.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Mr. Manubhai Harvondas Patel, filed a writ petition seeking a refund of Rs. 8,23,999/- plus Rs. 17,03,704/- with interest, and directions for the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) to hear his appeal (Appeal No. 2301/Mum/2004) on merits within a fixed timeframe. The ITAT had already decided the appeal on February 18, 2005, remanding the matter back to the Assessing Officer (AO) for fresh adjudication. The operative part of the ITAT's order indicated that some papers in the AO's possession were not brought to the notice of the Joint CIT, and the Tribunal agreed with the assessee on this point. The petitioner admitted to receiving a notice from the AO for the fresh adjudication.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the petitioner is entitled to a refund of Rs. 8,23,999/- plus Rs. 17,03,704/- along with interest, considering the ITAT's order remanding the matter back to the AO for fresh adjudication. (Question of law and fact, turning on the interpretation of the ITAT's order and the stage of assessment proceedings). 2. Whether directions should be issued to the ITAT to hear Appeal No. 2301/Mum/2004 on merits within a fixed time schedule. (Question of law, concerning the Tribunal's powers and the stage of proceedings). 3. Whether directions should be issued to the CBI to register a case against officers of the respondents under the Indian Penal Code. (Question of law, concerning the scope of writ jurisdiction and allegations of misconduct). Assessee's contentions: The petitioner, appearing in person, sought the refund and directions for expeditious disposal of his appeal. He also prayed for directions to the CBI to register a case against the respondents' officers. Revenue's contentions: The learned counsel for the respondents argued against the prayers made by the petitioner.
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
-= : 1 : =- IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITON NO. 5315 OF 2005 WRIT PETITON NO. 5315 OF 2005 WRIT PETITON NO. 5315 OF 2005 Mr.Manubhai Harvondas Patel, Indian ) Inhabitant, Aged about 51 years, ) carrying on business from the office ) situated at 5, Shreepal Industrial ) Premises,Pavan Baug Road,Malad (West) ) Mumbai -400 064 and residing at 2201 ) Kingston Palace, Chincholi bunder ) road, Malad (W), Mumbai - 400 064. ) ..Petitioner. V/s. 1) Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ) at Mumbai, Central Government ) Offices Building, 4th Floor, ) 101, Maharashi Karve Road, ) Mumbai - 400 020. ) ) 2) The Union of India through its ) The Chief Commissioner of ) Income Tax, Mumbai Aayakar ) Bhavan, Room No.358, M.K. Road, ) Mumbai - 400 020. ) ..Respondents. Petitioner in person. Mr.Parag Vyas for respondents. CORAM : V.C. DAGA AND CORAM : V.C. DAGA AND CORAM : V.C. DAGA AND J.P.DEVADHAR, JJ. J.P.DEVADHAR, JJ. J.P.DEVADHAR, JJ.
DATED : 16TH AUGUST, 2005. DATED : 16TH AUGUST, 2005. DATED : 16TH AUGUST, 2005. ORAL JUDGMENT (PER V.C.DAGA, J.) ORAL JUDGMENT (PER V.C.DAGA, J.) ORAL JUDGMENT (PER V.C.DAGA, J.) 1. Heard the petitioner appearing in person and the learned counsel for the respondents. By this petition, the petitioner is seeking refund of CNR No : HCBM010259392005 Uploaded on - 22/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 03:30:11
-= : 2 : =- Rs.8,23,999/- plus Rs.17, 03,704/- along with interest thereon and also praying for directions to respondent No.1 to hear the Appeal No.2301/Mum/2004 on merits within fixed time schedule. So far as the appeal No.2301/Mum/2004 filed by the present petitioner is concerned, the same has already been decided by the Tribunal on 18th February, 2005 as such, no directions for expeditious disposal of appeal are necessary. The operative part of the appellate order reads as under:- " On the facts brought on record, we are remanding the matter back to the file of AO for fresh adjudication of the issues. We also make it clear that the facts brought by the assessee on record with which we also agree that some of the papers which were already in the hands of AO were not brought to the notice of JCIT, appears to be correct. Since we remand the matter back to the file of AO, we are not going into the merits of the appeal. With the above observations, we set aside the impugned orders and restore it to the file of AO." 2. The aforesaid order disposing of the appeal unequivocally makes it clear that the matter has been remanded back to the assessing officer for fresh adjudication of issues raised by the assessee. Accordingly, notice has already been issued by the assessing officer to the petitioner which petitioner admits to have received. 3. So far as the prayer for refund of the amount with interest referred to hereinabove is Uploaded on - 22/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 03:30:11
-= : 3 : =- concerned, the same cannot be granted unless the assessment proceeding is terminated in accordance with law,. Consequently, both the prayers i.e. prayer clause (A ) & (B) has no merit. So far as the prayer (C) is concerned, we do not find any case being made out by the petitioner to grant such relief. Prayer clause (C) seeking directions to C.B.I. to register case under officers of the respondents under the Indian Penal Code is, therefore, rejected as unwarranted. The petition is without any merits. 4. During the course of hearing it transpired that the assessment proceeding which needs expeditious disposal is still pending with the assessing officer. The assessing officer is thus directed to proceed with the same and complete it within a period of 3 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 5. We hope that the petitioner will co-operate with the assessing officer in completing the assessment. In the event the assessing officer finds that the petitioner is not co-operating, then it would be open for him to complete the assessment in accordance with law. 6. Petition, accordingly stands dismissed in limini with no order as to costs. Uploaded on - 22/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 03:30:11
-= : 4 : =- (V.C. DAGA, J.) (V.C. DAGA, J.) (V.C. DAGA, J.) (J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) (J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) (J.P.DEVADHAR, J.)
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