MR. MOHAMMEDALI KURUMBATHOOR vs. THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court directed the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) to consider and dispose of the petitioner's stay petition within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the judgment. Furthermore, the Court ordered that no recovery steps would be taken against the petitioner pursuant to the ex-parte assessment order until the stay petition was disposed of. The Court did not decide on the merits of the appeal or the assessment order itself, focusing solely on the procedural aspect of the pending stay petition. The ratio decidendi is that appellate authorities should expeditiously consider stay petitions to prevent irreparable prejudice to assessees while their appeals are pending.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Mr. Mohammedali Kurumbathoor, an assessee under the Income Tax Act, 1961, filed a writ petition before the High Court of Kerala. The petition challenged an ex-parte assessment order passed under Section 144 read with Section 144B of the Act. The petitioner had preferred a statutory appeal against this assessment order before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), and also filed a stay petition. During the pendency of the appeal, a demand notice was issued based on the assessment order. The petitioner's limited prayer was for the consideration of his appeal and stay petition.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) should consider and dispose of the petitioner's stay petition filed against an ex-parte assessment order? (Question of procedure and administrative action) The petitioner argued for the consideration of his appeal and stay petition, emphasizing that these were pending before the appellate authority. The revenue, represented by the Standing Counsel, did not present any specific arguments against the consideration of the stay petition but was present for the hearing. No specific authorities or precedents were cited by either side in the judgment.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN WEDNESDAY, THE 12TH DAY OF JUNE 2024 / 22ND JYAISHTA, 1946 WP(C) NO. 19102 OF 2024 PETITIONER: MR. MOHAMMEDALI KURUMBATHOOR AGED 59 YEARS S/O. MUHAMMED HAJI, RESIDING AT KURAMBATHUR HOUSE, ALANALLUR, KACHERIPARAMBU, KERALA, INDIA, PIN – 678 601. BY ADVS. K.LATHA JOMTON F. PAYANKAN RESPONDENTS: 1 THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE (NFAC), ROOM NO. 245-A, NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI, PIN – 110 001. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT IS SUO MOTU CORRECTED AS “THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS), INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE (NFAC), ROOM NO. 245-A, NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI, PIN – 110 001.” 2 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER OFFICE OF THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD 1 & TPS, PALAKKAD, PIN – 678 001. SRI. CHRISTOPHER ABRAHAM SRI. P.R.AJITH KUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 12.06.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C).No.19102 OF 2024 2 JUDGMENT The description of the 1st respondent in the cause title is suo motu corrected as the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Income Tax Department, National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Room No.245-A, North Block, New Delhi – 110 001. 2. The petitioner is an assessee under the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, ‘the Act’). Against Ext.P1 ex-parte assessment order under Section 144 read with Section 144B of the Act, the petitioner has preferred Ext.P2 statutory appeal under Section 246A of the Act before the 1st respondent, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The petitioner has also preferred Ext.P4 stay petition. The petitioner states that during the pendency of Ext.P2 appeal, Ext.P3 demand notice has been issued pursuant to Ext.P1 assessment
WP(C).No.19102 OF 2024 3 order. The limited prayer of the petitioner is for a consideration of Ext.P2 appeal and Ext.P4 stay petition. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri.Christopher Abraham, the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. 4. In the facts and circumstances of the case and having regard to the submissions made across the Bar, there will be a direction to the 1st respondent to consider and dispose of Ext.P4 stay petition within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Till such time, there shall not be any recovery steps against the petitioner pursuant to Ext.P1 assessment order. The writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. Sd/- MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN JUDGE SPR
WP(C).No.19102 OF 2024 4 APPENDIX PETITIONER’
S EXHIBITS
:- EXHIBIT P1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2020-2021 DATED 23/09/2022 ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER. EXHIBIT P1 A THE TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE OF DEMAND ISSUED UNDER SECTION 156 OF THE INCOME- TAX ACT, 1961 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2020-2021 DATED 23/09/2022 ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER. EXHIBIT P1 B THE TRUE COPY OF THE COMPUTATION SHEET BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT ORDER FOR THE ASSESSMENT
YEAR
2020-2021
DATED 23/09/2022 ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER. EXHIBIT P2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE APPEAL IN FORM NO. 35 AND THE GROUNDS OF THE APPEAL FILED BY THE PETITIONER AGAINST THE EXHIBIT P1 ASSESSMENT ORDER FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2020-2021. EXHIBIT P2 A THE TRUE COPY OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RECEIPT OF INCOME TAX FORMS DATED 19- OCT-2022 FOR FILING THE EXHIBIT P2 APPEAL FILED BY THE PETITIONER AGAINST THE EXHIBIT P1 ASSESSMENT ORDER FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2020-2021. EXHIBIT P3 THE TRUE COPY OF THE DEMAND NOTICE DATED 17/05/2024 ISSUED BY THE SECOND RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2020-2021. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 7TH JUNE 2024 FILED BY THE PETITIONER IN EXHIBIT P2 APPEAL. RESPONDENT
S ANNEXURES
:- NIL.
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