THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S GARG ENTERPRISES
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that no question of law arises from the order of the ITAT. The Tribunal had recorded a finding that the AO had made necessary inquiries and that confirmations were furnished to the AO from parties who were supplying agricultural implements and had no bank accounts. The Tribunal also noted that the AO and CIT had not doubted the sales of the assessee, and that sales could not exist without corresponding purchases. The Tribunal relied on the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision in CIT v. Brij Mohan Singh & Co. (209 ITR 753), stating that Section 40A(3) should not be read in isolation from Rule 6DD. Furthermore, the Tribunal observed that the CBDT circular itself indicated that the enumerated circumstances were illustrative, not exhaustive. Therefore, the cash payments made by the assessee were considered to be covered by Rule 6DD(j) as certified by the Chartered Accountant. The High Court found no error in the ITAT's reasoning and dismissed the revenue's application.
What were the facts?
The Commissioner of Income-Tax (CIT), Patiala, invoked Section 263 of the Income Tax Act to set aside the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer (AO) for the assessment year in question. The CIT's action was based on the belief that the AO had wrongly allowed the benefit of Rule 6DD(j) without obtaining confirmation from the concerned party, as stipulated by CBDT Circular No. 220 dated 31.5.1977. The assessee, M/s Garg Enterprises, which deals in tractors and spare parts, appealed this decision to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The ITAT, in turn, set aside the CIT's order, finding that the necessary confirmation from the party had been furnished and that the allowance of cash payment was justified.
What were the issues?
1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the ITAT was right in law in holding that the CIT was not justified in cancelling the order passed by the AO by invoking the provisions of Section 263 and thereby reversing the order passed by the CIT? Assessee's Contentions: The assessee argued that the cash payments made were covered by Rule 6DD(j) read with CBDT Circular No. 220 dated 30.5.1977. They contended that the circular itself states that the circumstances mentioned are illustrative, not exhaustive, and other cases can also meet the requirements of Rule 6DD(j). The assessee relied on the finding that necessary confirmations were furnished to the AO from parties supplying agricultural implements who had no bank accounts, and that the AO had made necessary inquiries before passing the assessment order. The assessee also cited the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision in CIT v. Brij Mohan Singh & Co. (209 ITR 753) to support the proposition that Section 40A(3) must be read in conjunction with Rule 6DD. Revenue's Contentions: The revenue contended that the CIT was justified in invoking Section 263 to cancel the AO's order because confirmation from the concerned party was required before allowing the benefit of Rule 6DD(j), as per CBDT Circular No. 220.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
ITC No. 15 of 1999 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ITC No. 15 of 1999(O&M) Date of decision: November 9, 2009 The Commissioner of Income-Tax, Patiala ...Appellants Versus M/s Garg Enterprises ...Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ADARSH KUMAR GOEL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GURDEV SINGH Present: Ms. Urvashi Dhuggal, Advocate, for the revenue. Mr. Animesh Sharma, Advocate, for the assessee. ORDER 1. This application has been filed for direction to make reference on question of law to the following effect:- “Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the I.T.A.T. was right in law in holding that the CIT was not justified in cancelling the order passed by the A.O. by invoking the provisions of Section 263 and thereby reversing the order passed by the C.I.T.?” 2. The assessee is engaged in sale and purchase of tractors and its spare parts, mainly required by agriculture sector. The Assessing Officer made assessment for the year in question but thereafter CIT exercising powers under Section 263 of the Act set aside the order of the Assessing Officer on the ground that as per CBDT's circular No. 220 dated 31.5.1977 confirmation of concern party was required before benefit of Rule 6 DD (j)
ITC No. 15 of 1999 2 was allowed. On appeal of the assessee before the Tribunal, the said order was set aside after recording a finding that necessary confirmation from the party had been duly furnished and allowing of cash payment was justified. 3. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 4. The relevant observations of the Tribunal are as follows:- “...Neither the AO nor the CIT has doubted the sales of the assessee and there can be no sales if there are no corresponding purchases. The Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of CIT v. Brij Mohan Singh & Co. 209 ITR 753 has held that section 40A (3) of the Act must not be read in isolation or to the exclusion of rule 6DD of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 and the Circular itself states that the circumstances narrated in paragraph 4 of the circular are not exhaustive but are illustrative and there could be cases other than those falling within the above categories, which would also meet the requirements of rule 6DD (j). Thus, it is seen that the cash payments made by the assessee were covered by rule 6DD (j) read with Board's circular No. 220 dated 30-5-1977 as certified by the Chartered Accountant given alongwith the audit report and the AO had made necessary enquiries in this regard before making the assessment and necessary confirmation were supplied to the AO from parties who were supplying agricultural implements and have no bank account as to whom cash payments were made...” 5. It is clear from the above observations that the Assessing
ITC No. 15 of 1999 3 Officer had made necessary inquiries and confirmations were furnished to the Assessing Officer from the parties who were supplying agricultural implements and had no bank account. 6. In view of the above, no question of law arises. 7. Dismissed. (ADARSH KUMAR GOEL) JUDGE November 9, 2009 (GURDEV SINGH ) prem
JUDGE
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