COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. SABIBNA MUYEENUDDIN

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TCA/116/2018HC Madras28 August 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the submission by the Revenue's counsel that the appeal was not being pursued due to low tax effect, in light of CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 which increased the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below the threshold limit. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed on account of low tax effect. The substantial questions of law framed were left open. Liberty was granted to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 28.10.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'B' Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2010-2011 and challenged the ITAT's cancellation of a penalty levied under Section 271D of the Act. The assessee was Sabibna Muyeenuddin. The amount in dispute was not explicitly stated but was indicated to be below the threshold for appeal. The procedural history involves the penalty being levied, challenged before the ITAT, and then appealed to the High Court by the Revenue.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal was right and justified in cancelling the penalty levied under Section 271D when both the assessee and the lender maintained bank accounts and no urgency for making cash transactions was adduced? 2. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal was correct and justified in holding that penalty under Section 271D is not exigible after holding that the assessee has not been able to show the urgency of the transactions in cash, and whether the order of the Tribunal is perverse on this count? 3. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal erred in not following the ratio laid down in the binding decisions in Builtec Engineers & Builders vs. DCIT, Kasi Consultant Corporation vs. DCIT, P. Baskar vs. CIT, and Thenamal Chhajjer vs. JCIT, which held that while considering contravention of Section 269SS, the genuineness of the loan/deposit is not a criterion, and the assessee must prove the urgency for taking a loan in cash? 4. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal was right and justified in cancelling the penalty levied under Section 271D relying on the decision of the Madras High Court in M/s. Yesodha, where the urgency of making cash transactions was properly explained by the assessee, thus making the facts distinguishable? Revenue's Contention: The Revenue argued that the Tribunal erred in cancelling the penalty without considering the lack of adduced urgency and by distinguishing precedents. The Revenue relied on the decisions in Builtec Engineers & Builders, Kasi Consultant Corporation, P. Baskar, and Thenamal Chhajjer. Assessee's Contention: The judgment does not record specific contentions made by the assessee's counsel.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 271D,Section 269SS

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.116 of 2018 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 28.08.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.116 of 2018 Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ...Appellant Vs Sabibna Muyeenuddin PAN: AOMPS663K ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 28.10.2016 made in ITA.No.1040/MDS/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2010-2011. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthilkumar, SSC assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani For Respondent : Mr.R.Sivaraman JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam,J.) We have heard Mr.T.R.Senthilkumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel, assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani, learned counsel appearing for the appellant/revenue and Mr.R.Sivaraman, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.116 of 2018 2.This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 28.10.2016 made in ITA.No.1040/MDS/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2010-2011. 3.The appeal has been filed by raising the following substantial questions of law : “1.Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal was right and justified in cancelling the penalty levied u/s.271D when both assessee and lender maintained bank accounts and urgency for making such transactions by cash was not adduced at all? 2.Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal was correct and justified in holding that penalty u/s.271D is not exigible after holding that assessee has not been able to show the urgency of the transactions in cash and whether the order of the Tribunal is perverse on this count? 3.Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal erred in not following the ratio laid down in the binding decisions in Builtec Engineers & Builders vs. DCIT (Mad) 76 DTR 410, Kasi Consultant Corporation vs. DCIT (Mad) 311 ITR 419, P.Baskar vs. CIT (MAd) 340 ITR 560 and Thenamal Chhajjer vs. JCIT (ITAT, Chennai) 96 ITD 210 in which it was held that while considering contravention of the provisions of Sec.269SS, genuineness of loan/deposit is not a criteria and assessee has to prove the urgency for taking loan in cash? 4.Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal was right and justified in cancelling the penalty levied u/s.271D relying on the decision of Hon'ble 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.116 of 2018 Madras High Court in the case of M/s.Yesodha in which urgency of making cash transaction was properly explained by assessee and thus facts distinguishable?" 4.The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the low tax effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.8.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. By the said Circular, the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court has been increased to Rs.1 Crore. It is further submitted that the tax effect in this case is less than the threshold limit. 5.In the light of the said submissions, the above tax case appeal is dismissed on account of the low tax effect. The substantial questions of law framed are left open. In the event the tax effect is above the threshold limit fixed in the said circular, liberty is granted to the Revenue to make a mention to this Court to restore the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No costs. (T.S.S.J.) (V.B.S.J.) 28.08.2019 cse Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes (or) No To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.116 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J. AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J. cse TCA.No.116 of 2018 28.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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