PRINCIPLE COMMISSIONER OF vs. SHRI. PADMASINGH ISAAC

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TCA/1173/2015HC Madras18 June 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the Tax Case 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 a low tax effect, falling below the threshold limit stipulated in CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. The court explicitly stated that 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, allowing for a decision on merits. No finding was reached on the substantial questions of law themselves.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, represented by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, filed an appeal before the High Court of Madras against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated May 29, 2015. The ITAT's order pertained to assessment year 2008-09 and concerned an appeal filed by the assessee, Shri Padmasingh Isaac. The appeal was admitted by the High Court on December 2, 2015, based on substantial questions of law. The assessee was served notice but did not appear before the High Court. The Revenue's counsel submitted that the appeal was not being pursued due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 which increased the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore.

What were the issues?

The High Court was to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was correct in concluding that the amount received by the assessee was not in the nature of a loan or advance, and therefore deleting the deemed income chargeable under Section 2(22)(e) of the Income Tax Act. 2. Whether the Appellate Tribunal erred in not considering the second limb of Section 2(22)(e), which covers any payment by a company on behalf of or for the individual benefit of a shareholder, to the extent the company possesses accumulated profits. 3. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was right in not considering the circuitous route adopted by the assessee to receive the amount from the company, given the assessee had not furnished evidence to disprove the Assessing Officer's factual findings. The Revenue argued that the ITAT's decision was incorrect on these points. The assessee did not present any arguments as they did not appear before the court.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 2(22)(e)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.1173 of 2015 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 18.06.2020 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA Tax Case Appeal No.1173 of 2015 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Central II, No.108, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai-600 034. ...Appellant -vs- Shri.Padmasingh Isaac, G-1174, Rose Residency, 15th Street, Belly Area, Anna Nagar West, Chennai-600 040. PAN: AID PP 3634L ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 29.05.2015 made in I.T.A.No.1266/Mds/2013 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2008-09. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, SSC Ms.K.G.Usha Rani, Standing Counsel For Respondent : Served – No appearance Judgment was delivered by

T.S.Sivagnanam,J

. We have heard Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel and Ms.K.G.Usha Rani, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant- Revenue. 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.1173 of 2015 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 29.05.2015 made in I.T.A.No.1266/Mds/2013 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2008-09. 3. The appeal was admitted on 02.12.2015 on the following substantial questions of law:- “1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in coming to a conclusion that the amount received by the assessee is not in the nature of loan or advances and therefore deleting the deemed income chargeable u/s.2(22)(e) of the Income Tax Act? 2. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal is correct in not considering the second limb of section 2(22)(e) which brings to tax “any payment by any such company on behalf of or for the individual benefit, of any such shareholder, to the extent to which such company in either case possesses accumulated profits? 3. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was right in not considering the circuitous route adopted by the assessee to receive the amount from the company, when the assessee had not furnished any evidence 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.1173 of 2015 to disprove the factual findings of the Assessing Officer?” 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. (T.S.S., J.) (P.S.N., J.) 18.06.2020 Internet: Yes To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai. abr 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.1173 of 2015 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, J. abr TCA.No.1173 of 2015 18.06.2020 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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