SUNEEL HIRACHAND SHAH vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER

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TCA/11/2020HC Madras20 January 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice N. KIRUBAKARAN7 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that while the Tribunal found no prima facie case due to incriminating documents, considering the assessee had already deposited Rs.15,71,293/- out of a total demand of Rs.61,99,012/-, the interest of justice would be served by directing a further deposit. The Court ordered the assessee to deposit an additional Rs.15,00,000/- in three equal monthly installments, payable within 15 days of each month. Upon this payment, the ITAT's dismissal order on the stay petition was set aside, and an interim stay was granted until the disposal of the appeal before the Tribunal. The Court answered the substantial questions of law in this manner and directed the Tribunal to dispose of the appeal expeditiously. The Court explicitly stated it was not inclined to go into the genuineness of transactions at this stage.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Suneel Hirachand Shah, appealed against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) which dismissed his stay petition. The ITAT's dismissal was in relation to an appeal filed by the assessee against an order of the Appellate Commissioner, which had confirmed an addition made by the Assessment Officer. The assessee had purchased shares in Twenty First Century India Limited between October 2004 and November 2004 and sold them in 2010, claiming exemption under Section 10(38) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Assessment Officer disallowed this claim, and the Appellate Commissioner confirmed it. The ITAT found no prima facie case for the assessee, citing SEBI and Director of Investment reports indicating bogus transactions.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in dismissing the request for stay of demand without considering the complete facts and circumstances of the case of the Appellant? (Question of law) 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in dismissing the request for stay of demand when the Appellant has strong prima facie case on merits, the assessment order being without jurisdiction and in complete violation of principles of natural justice? (Question of law and fact) 3. Whether in the interest of justice, equity and fairness the Appellant should be granted stay of balance tax demand when it has made a prima facie case on merits, the balance of convenience is in favour of the Appellant and undue hardship will be caused to the Appellant if further tax demand is to be paid? (Question of law and fact) Assessee's contentions: The assessee argued that the Tribunal erred in dismissing the stay petition without considering all facts, that they had a strong prima facie case, and that the assessment order was without jurisdiction and violated principles of natural justice. They also contended that granting a stay would be in the interest of justice, equity, and fairness, considering the balance of convenience and potential undue hardship. Revenue's contentions: The judgment records that the revenue was represented by counsel, but it does not explicitly state the revenue's arguments regarding the stay petition.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 10(38),Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 20.01.2020 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.KIRUBAKARAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 and C.M.P.No.368 of 2020 Suneel Hirachand Shah No.178, Old No.88, NSC Bose Road, Sowcarpet, Chennai 600 079. [PAN AAOUPS 4435F] ... Appellant Vs The Income Tax Officer, Non Corporate Circle 6(1), II Floor, Room No.223, BSNL Complex, Tower 1, Greams Road, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 006. ... Respondent PRAYER : Appeal under Section 260A of Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “C” Bench, Chennai in S.P.No.319/CHNY/2019 in I.T.A.No.3197/CHNY/2019 dated 09.12.2019. For Appellant :Mr.R.Sandeep Bagmar 1/7 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 For Respondent :Mr.T.Ravi Kumar Senior standing counsel J U D G M E N T (Judgment of the Court was delivered by N.KIRUBAKARAN, J) The Appeal has been preferred against the dismissal of stay petition filed by the assessee/appellant in the ITA filed by the Appellant agianst the order of the Appellate Commissioner confirming the addition made by the Assessment Officer. 2.The case of the appellant is that he has purchased shares in Twenty First Century India Limited between October 2004 and November 2004 and he has sold the shares only in 2010 and he is entitled for exemption u/s.10(38) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Assessment Officer disallowed the claim and the same was confirmed by the Appellate Commissioner. In the Appeal, the Tribunal found that there is no prima facie case in favour of the appellant, on the premise that the incriminating materials, based on the report provided by SEBI and Director of Investment, Kolkatta prove that these transactions are bogus. 3. The Tax Case Appeal is admitted on the following substantial 2/7 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 questions of law: (i) Whether the Tribunal was correct in dismissing the request for stay of demand without considering the complete facts and circumstances of the case of the Appellant? (ii)Whether the Tribunal was correct in dismissing the request for stay of demand when the Appellant has strong prima facie case on merits, the assessment order being without jurisdiction and in complete violation of principles of natural justice? (iii)Whether in the interest of justice, equity and fairness the Appellant should be granted stay of balance tax demand when it has made a prima facie case on merits, the balance of convenience is in faovur of the Appellant and undue hardship will be caused to the Appellant if further tax demand is to be paid? 4.Heard Mr.R.Sandeep Bagmar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant and Mr.T.Ravikumar, learned Senior Standing counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent. 5.Though there are arguments and rival arguments with regard to genuineness of transactions, this Court is not inclined to go into the issues at this stage. The only question to be decided is as to whether the Tribunal is right in dismissing the stay petition. The learned counsel appearing for the appellant has produced a computation table which shows that the tax 3/7 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 demanded is Rs.34,12,174/- and interest on tax is Rs.27,86,838/- and the total tax and interest is Rs.61,99,012/-, whereas he has paid Rs.15,71,293/-. 6.Though the Tribunal found that there is no prima facie case in view of the incriminating documents, considering the fact that the appellant had already deposited a sum of Rs.15,71,293/-, out of demand of Rs.61,99,012/-, the Interest of Justice will be complied with by directing the appellant to deposit a further sum of Rs.15,00,000/- in three equal installments, each installments should be paid within 15 days of every month. On such payment, the dismissal order passed by the Tribunal in the stay petition is set aside and there shall be an order of interim stay till the disposal of the Appeal before the Tribunal. The question of law is answered in the above terms. It is open to the Tribunal to get along with the matter and dispose of the matter at the earliest, in accordance with law. 7.Accordingly, this Appeal is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is also closed. (NKKJ) (PVJ) 20.01.2020 4/7 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 sai 5/7 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 To 1.The Income Tax Officer, Non Corporate Circle 6(1), II Floor, Room No.223, BSNL Complex, Tower 1, Greams Road, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 006. 2.Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai. 6/7 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 N.KIRUBAKARAN, J. and P.VELMURUGAN

, J.

sai T.C.A.No.11 of 2020 Dated : 20.01.2020 7/7 http://www.judis.nic.in

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