KUNNAPPILLY BUILDERS LL.P vs. ADDITIONAL/JOINT/DEPUTY/ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX/ INCOME TAX OFFICER

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WP(C)/33187/2023HC KeralaKLHC01073984202317 October 2023Bench: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D. K. SINGH5 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that it cannot entertain the writ petition to stay the demand as prayed by the petitioner, because appeals are pending before the 2nd respondent (Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)) and no interim order has been passed by that authority. The court reasoned that the procedural remedy of appeal is available and should be pursued. Therefore, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider and decide the appeal (Ext.P2) and the stay application (Ext.P3) expeditiously within a period of two months. If the appeal cannot be decided within this timeframe, at least the stay application must be decided within the same period. The court did not decide on the merits of the appeal or the stay application.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Kunnapilly Builders LLP, is a builder assessed for Assessment Year 2015-16 under Sections 147, 144, and 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The total assessed income is Rs. 6,30,30,000/-, with tax and interest amounting to Rs. 5,65,32,168/-. The petitioner admits not filing a return for AY 2015-16, despite acquiring property valued at Rs. 6,30,00,000/- during that year. A notice under Section 148 was issued, followed by an assessment order under Sections 147, 144, and 144B. The petitioner filed an appeal (Ext.P2) and a stay application (Ext.P3) before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC), New Delhi. This writ petition was filed seeking a direction for expeditious disposal of the appeal and stay application.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the High Court can entertain a writ petition to stay the demand when appeals are pending before the appellate authority, and no interim order has been passed by that authority? The petitioner argued that the writ petition was filed for a direction to the 2nd respondent (Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)) to consider and decide Ext.P2 appeal and Ext.P3 application expeditiously. The petitioner sought to stay the demand as prayed by their counsel. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the revenue. However, the court's decision implies that the revenue's position, or at least the court's understanding of the procedural hierarchy, is that the writ petition is not the appropriate forum to stay the demand when appeals are pending and no interim order has been granted by the appellate authority.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 147,Section 144,Section 144B,Section 148

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH KUMAR SINGH TUESDAY, THE 17TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 25TH ASWINA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 33187 OF 2023 PETITIONER: KUNNAPPILLY BUILDERS LL.P 40/1803, N2, FLAT NO.7C, SAMUDRA DARSHAN APARTMENT, MARINE DRIVE, KOCHI, KERALA, PIN – 682 011 REPRESENTED BY ITS PARTNER MS. SREEDEVI GOPALAKRISHNAN. BY ADVS. ANIL D. NAIR TELMA RAJU AADITYA NAIR RESPONDENTS: 1 ADDITIONAL/JOINT/DEPUTY/ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX/ INCOME TAX OFFICER NATIONAL FACELESS ASSESSMENT CENTRE, DELHI, PIN – 110 001. 2 COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS ASSESSMENT CENTRE (NFAC), NEW DELHI, PIN – 110 001. 3 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER CORPORATE WARD 1 (1), KOCHI, PIN – 682 018. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 17.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

WP(C) NO. 33187 OF 2023 2 DINESH KUMAR SINGH, J. -------------------------------------------- WP(C) NO. 33187 OF 2023 -------------------------------------------- Dated this the 17th day of October, 2023 J U D G M E N T 1. The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner for a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider and decide Ext.P2 appeal and Ext.P3 application expeditiously. 2. The petitioner, the builder has been assessed for the assessment year 2015-16 under Sections 147 read with 144 and 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (The Act for short). The total assessed

income

the

petitioner

is Rs.6,30,30,000/- on which tax and interest to an extent of Rs.5,65,32,168/- has been assessed. The petitioner admittedly did not file the return for the

WP(C) NO. 33187 OF 2023 3 assessment year 2015-16 though he brought property for value of Rs. 6,30,00,000/- in the said assessment year. The petitioner was issued notice under Section 148 of the Act and thereafter the assessment order has been issued under Sections147, 144 and 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961. As the appeals are pending and no interim order has been passed, this Court cannot entertain this writ petition and stay the demand as prayed by the learned counsel for the petitioner. 3. In view thereof, the present writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider and decide Ext.P2 appeal and Ext.P3 application expeditiously within a period of two months and if it is not possible to decide the appeal within the period of two months, atleast the application for stay should be decided within the

WP(C) NO. 33187 OF 2023 4 said period. 4. With the aforesaid direction, the present writ petition is disposed of. Sd/- DINESH KUMAR SINGH JUDGE rpr

WP(C) NO. 33187 OF 2023 5 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 33187/2023 PETITIONER’S EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2015-16 DATED 29.03.2022 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT. Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE APPEAL FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2015-16 FILED BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT BY THE PETITIONER DATED 25.5.2022. Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION FOR STAY FILED BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT BY THE PETITIONER DATED 25.5.2022. Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF LETTER DATED 23.7.2022 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT. Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY DATED 6.8.2022 ALONG WITH ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Exhibit P6 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 11.10.2022 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT. Exhibit P7 TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY DATED 27.10.2022 ALONG WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Exhibit P8 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 26.09.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT.

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