PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF IN vs. SHRI.A.LALICHAN
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue on the grounds of low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for filing or pursuing 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 substantial questions of law framed for the appeal were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case to the Court for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No decision was made on the merits of the substantial questions of law.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, represented by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated July 12, 2018, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras 'B' Bench. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2010-2011. The dispute revolves around the cost of acquisition of land in Kerala. The ITAT had adopted Rs. 9,32,80,000/- as the cost of acquisition based on an agreement dated January 24, 2007. The assessee, Shri A. Lalichan, had initially claimed Rs. 4,49,33,080/- as the total cost of land in his computation statement filed on July 2, 2012. The Revenue's appeal was admitted on December 10, 2019, on substantial questions of law.
What were the issues?
The High Court was to decide three substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in law in adopting Rs. 9,32,80,000/- as the cost of acquisition of the land at Kerala by virtue of the agreement dated January 24, 2007, when the assessee claimed Rs. 4,49,33,080/- only as the total cost of land in the computation statement filed on July 2, 2012. 2. Whether the ITAT was correct in adopting Rs. 9,32,80,000/- as the cost of acquisition when the assessee had not submitted any evidence of payments exceeding Rs. 4,49,33,080/- towards the purchase of land, and the initial burden of proof was not discharged by the assessee. 3. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was correct in holding that the Revenue had accepted the agreement dated January 24, 2007, as a genuine and undisputed document, when the CIT(A) had questioned its genuineness due to it not being notarized and lacking revenue stamps. The Revenue argued that the ITAT erred in accepting the higher cost of acquisition without sufficient evidence from the assessee and questioned the genuineness of the agreement. The Revenue also relied on CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 regarding low tax effect. The judgment records no specific arguments from the assessee on these points.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.No.153 of 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 08.12.2020 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM & THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.153 of 2018 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax 6 No.121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Chennai
... Appellant Vs. Shri A. Lalichan
... Respondent Tax Case Appeal is filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act 1961 against the order dated 12.07.2018 made in I.T.A.No.1880/Chny/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench, for the assessment year 2010 - 2011.
For Appellant : Mr.J.Narayanasamy Senior Standing Counsel
For Respondent : Mr.M.P.Senthilkumar
1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.153 of 2019 J U D G M E N T (Judgment of the Court was delivered by T.S.SIVAGNANAM.J) We have heard Mr.J.Narayanasamy, learned counsel appearing for the appellant and Mr.M.P.Senthilkumar, learned counsel appearing for the respondent. 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 12.07.2018 made in I.T.A.No.1880/Chny/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench, for the assessment year 2010 - 2011. 3. The Tax case appeal was admitted on 10.12.2019 on the following substantial questions of law : “1. Whether the ITAT is correct in law in adopting Rs.9,32,80,000/- as the cost of acquisition of the land at Kerala by virtue of the agreement dated 24.01.2007 when the assessee in its computation of capital gains has claimed Rs.4,49,33,080/- only as the total cost of land in the computation statement filed on 02.07.2012 during the post survey proceedings? 2. Whether the ITAT is correct in adopting Rs.9,32,80,000/- as the cost of acquisition of the land when in fact the assessee has not submit any evidence of payments in excess of Rs.4,49,33,080/- towards the purchase of land and the initial burden is not discharged by the assessee? 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.153 of 2019 3. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in holding that the Revenue has accepted the agreement dated 24.01.2007 as genuine and undisputed document when in fact, the Ld. CIT(A) in his order has questioned the genuineness of the documentary proof as it is not placed before any notary and no revenue stamp affixed?" 4. The learned 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 question of law framed is 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.,) (V.B.S.J.,)
08.12.2020 Index : yes/no Internet : yes/no Speaking Judgment/Non-Speaking Judgment ssd 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.153 of 2019 T.S.SIVAGNANAM.J., and V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN.J., ssd To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “B” Bench, Chennai. Tax Case Appeal No.153 of 2019 08.12.2020 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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